Oct 2011 - Royal Corps of Signals

Transcription

wire
THE
www.royalsignals.mod.uk
October 2011
The Magazine of The Royal Corps of Signals
SOINC(A)
COMMENDATIONS
LANCE CORPORAL D A ALLWORK
11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)
Regiment
LCpl Allwork, an EW Sys Op, has been awarded a SOinC(A)
Commendation for his outstanding performance as an
advanced EOD ECM operator on Op HERRICK between June
and November 2010. LCpl Allwork sustained a particularly
arduous and kinetic tour in the high threat environment of
Southern Afghanistan. His most notable efforts were during
the extraction of his IEDD number 2 operator. His role in the
casualty extraction proved to be vital and made all the more
significant by being carried out under fire. Exuding technical expertise, he was calm and courageous under fire and
proved intelligent, articulate and selfless in his actions.
LANCE CORPORAL G J PARSONS
11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)
Regiment
LCpl Parsons, an EW Sys Op, has been awarded a SOinC(A)
Commendation for his actions while deployed on Op HERRICK
between September 2009 and March 2010. Employed as an
advanced EOD ECM operator, he was faced with extreme
danger and intense pressure on a daily basis. Of the numerous
taskings that LCpl Parsons conducted, one warrants particular
mention. While clearing a notoriously “seeded” stretch of
road in Sangin, his IEDD operator was killed whilst neutralising
a device. LCpl Parsons held his nerve and took control of the
situation preventing all movement of other team members
until such time as the appropriate equipment could be brought
forward to negate the threat from secondary devices. As a
result of his actions further lives were undoubtedly saved.
LCpl Parsons demonstrated maturity, professionalism and
leadership beyond that expected of his rank and experience.
The Magazine of the Royal Corps of Signals
OCTOBER 2011 Vol. 65 No: 5
Established in 1920
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CONTENTS
News from Operations
News from Blandford
News from Training
News from Regiments
Page
2
11
13
24
News from Squadrons
Other Units
Sport
Royal Signals Association
Last Post
75
82
89
99
103
Obituaries
103
Miscellaneous
105
FRONT COVER
Sig ‘T-Boy’ Porter, a Phase 2 trainee from 11 (RSS) Sig Regt,
being presented the Braemar Shield by Her Majesty the
Queen
Other notable articles
Page
SOinC(A) Update
56
Braemar Highland Gathering 2011
94
Life in Afghanistan with the Royal
New Zealand Army
106
Royal Signals e-Marketing
Recruiting Strategy
108
Wider Employment Opportunities
110
BACK COVER
Sgt Langley, Multiple Commnader K30 at the
British Council incident 19 Aug 2011
Authors alone are responsible for the content of their articles. The opinions expressed in the articles of this publication are those of the individual
authors and do not necessarily reflect the policy and views, official or otherwise, of the Royal Corps of Signals or the Ministry of Defence. All
articles and submissions are published at the discretion of the Editor.
This publication may contain official information. It should be treated with discretion by the recipient.
Printed by Holbrook Printers Ltd, Norway Road, Hilsea, Portsmouth © Crown Copyright
NEWS FROM OPERATIONS
15th SIGNAL REGIMENT (INFORMATION SUPPORT)
- by WO2 Potts
The new team arrived in Theatre on 26 May after a fairly painfree trip from sunny Blandford. We were met in Camp Bastion
by the smiling faces of the outgoing team, who had been
eagerly awaiting our arrival. Our abundance of kit was loaded
onto the loaned wagons and we were escorted to our new
tented accommodation in Mercury Lines. By this time it was
the early hours of the morning, but this didn’t stop Cpl
‘Wiggy’ MacSwan-Wiggins from making himself at home in
his massive bed space/admin area.
The following day the incoming team were met by both the
incoming LO, Capt Prtak (RLC) and his predecessor, WO1
(FofS) Ind. We hadn’t eaten since the luscious meals provided
by Crab Airways so it was fair to say that everyone was a little
peckish to say the least. After a very short but sweet brief
from the LOs, it was time to sample the delights of the new
Super DFAC on Bastion 1.
Op MASSIVE began instantly for Sgt ‘Keano’ Keane and Cpl
MacSwan-Wiggins, with Sgt Chris Slade easing into it
gradually. The rest of the teams decided to try and
acclimatise before they began their phys sessions. It wasn’t
long before the gym was a regular part of everyone’s daily
routine.
Next on the agenda for the workers was the 5-day RSOI
package. This was done in conjunction with the HOTOs being
carried out by the illustrious team leaders. Whilst the RSOI
was taking place, WO2 ‘Uncle Bulgaria’ Potts was making
good use of the things that he found, things that the
everyday folk left behind. Scouring the burn pit daily for
anything that could make his life more comfortable, he
acquired everything from bed frames to nice warm tins of
tuna and spam, mmm!!!
The highlight of the RSOI package had to have been when we
were joined by DJ ‘Drop the Bomb’ Tim Westwood. He
tagged onto Cpl MacSwan-Wiggins’ patrol, who was given
the interesting task of babysitting him, but apparently for Tim
the patrolling experience was all a bit TOO intense. Another
moment that will live long in the memory was the look on
WO2 ‘Woody’ Wood’s face when he thought he might have to
do the 7-day package as he was originally down as a ‘Cat 3’.
Work has flowed consistently throughout the tour for the Tac
CIS team, with our time being divided pretty equally between
the VRS park, doing Bowman health checks on a plethora of
vehicles and for Mat Troop, and providing Level 3 support to
the MDOR fielding team. A few more challenging ‘planning’
conundrums from the Brde Yeoman have stretched the
knowledge of our two BSMs.
With our ongoing support to Brde, and their goal of
establishing the data network for Helmand continuing to
flourish more each day with plenty of behind-the-scenes
assistance from us representing 15 Sig Regt (IS), we can
consider our tour to have been a successful one. This is a
fantastic foundation which we are sure will be maintained
after a successful HOTO to the next team at the start of
September.
It has been a steady couple of months for the DII-D team, who
after a comprehensive handover all completed the RSOI
package and settled in to the day to day tasks of pestering
the MAN managers and dealing with jobs from JFCIS. Then
began the uphill task of bringing SSgt Daz ‘Taff’ Powell up to
speed on the engrossing weekly report. That killed 10
minutes, leaving him to plan the deployments for site visits
and how best to get the boys out on the ground.
Several in-Theatre deployments have seen Sgts Chris Slade
and Daz ‘Killer’ Morley showcase their talents in the field.
The quote of the tour so far was from Sgt Slade: “you can’t
beat sitting on a fixed wing for 2hrs in full kit with an armpit in
your face”. We have seen the arrival of 21 Sig Regt and all the
challenges a new CSR brings. The Condor team have also
joined us, once again highlighting the ever-growing grey
network.
The new office is finally ready and we have decided to share
the wealth with LSST and BSST. It is now the maintenance
and engineering bay, rapidly doubling as a classroom when
young and old minds alike need refreshing.
Just over halfway through the tour and things have settled in
nicely, the gym and the cookhouse are in heavy use. Evenings
have seen ‘Deal or No Deal’ become a firm favourite, and
early nights followed by the gym queens’ alarms at 06:00
have become the norm.
With eyes firmly on the calendar for September the team
continue to deliver Level 3 support to Theatre with the everfamiliar voice of Killer Morley handing out advice in spades,
and SSgt Daz (Taff) Powell doing his best to calorie count.
81 SIGNAL SQUADRON (VOLUNTEERS)
CORSHAM
OC SSM
Maj Andy Kennedy
WO2 (SSM) Matt Ticehurst
81 SIGNAL SQUADRON ON OPS - by Sig Luke Wright
As part of 81 Sig Sqn’s continuing support to operations in
Afghanistan a surge team of 6 soldiers, ably led by Cpl Anton
Jones were sent to Helmand province in April 2011. Whilst in
Theatre, the team was tasked by the Communications
2
Planning Office (CPO) to carry out installation work in and
around Camp Bastion. As the team were made up of BT
engineers plus one MoD telecommunications engineer, there
was plenty of experience to draw upon and they were eager
to begin work.
However, before deploying “some” training was required to
turn these civilian engineers into soldiers in the Royal Corps of
Signals. The first stage of the training began at Lydd camp
THE WIRE, OCTOBER 2011
where they undertook Basic Close Combat Skills
(BCCS) under the watchful eye of SSgt Trebilcock,
LIAG. The course covered range work including pistol
firing, which was a first for many of the soldiers, and
fire and manoeuvre drills, section level attacks, sangar
shoots, advancing to contact and withdrawal under
fire with a casualty – culminating in a live fire casualty
evacuation (casevac) on a non-static range.
Four of the soldiers furthered their trade skills with a
2-week fibre optic course at Blandford to earn
themselves City and Guilds 3666 and 3667. The course
covered fibre termination using a variety of cutting
edge methods such as hot melting, splicing pigtails and
crimping. The course also covered testing fibre by
Optical Time Domain Reflect (OTDR) meter, power
meter, and light source. These skills would soon be
put to good use in Theatre. However, before
deploying mobilisation training would be required to
ensure the team were prepared for the dangers of
Afghanistan.
Mobilisation training was undertaken at Reserves
Training Mobilisation Centre (RTMC) Chilwell. Here the team
carried out Theatre specific training in battle casualty drills,
CBRN, and Counter IED. The soldiers also had to pass an
8-mile CFT on one of the more hilly routes Chilwell has to
offer before being sent to OPTAG for further operational
training.
At OPTAG, skills learned at RTMC were honed and new skills
learned such as basic Pashtu - one of Afghanistan’s many
dialects. The final Operational Law lesson which was given on
the Digital Close Combat Trainer was memorable and realistic.
The scenario faced was that intelligence reports had been
received of a planned enemy forces ambush at a local bazaar
followed by suicide bomb attack designed to cause maximum
casualties and to deter local nationals from interacting with
ISAF. The scenario called upon all military skills learned since
BCCS and brought home the reality of what awaited the team.
The RMP judged whether actions taken were authorized by
the law of armed conflict.
Within 36 hours of completing OPTAG, the surge team were
sat on a flight heading to Afghanistan. On the flight there
were mixed feelings, ranging from excitement from those
who had not mobilised before to a more casual attitude from
LCpl ‘Nutty’ Almond who was about to deploy for his fourth
tour in 5 years. Upon landing in Afghanistan shortly after
midnight, the team were rushed through to RSOI where
further training would begin in the morning. RSOI for those
who have not deployed builds on training already received
but consists of the lessons learned from the feedback of
Sig Dobson, LCpl Almond and Sig Wilkinson pull in a cable along
the flight line
The team consult Commando on the next move
troops on the ground and is constantly updated to overcome
the ever-changing enemy threat. Upon completion of RSOI
the team were given their first of many tasks by the CPO
liaison officer. This was a new build project that would
require 5 cables over a kilometre long to be pulled from air
traffic control along the flight line. Cabling in the desert has
its own challenges, such as being blinded by dust waves
whenever a plane roars by. Communication can also be an
issue, as being heard over the noise of a C-17 is nearly
impossible forcing the team to adopt various hand signals. To
add to their troubles the temperature was above 50 degrees
C. Taking on enough water became essential to remain
hydrated, however, the team soon became acclimatized to
working in the midday heat.
The team’s next major objective was the rewire job at the
C-IED (Counter-Improvised Explosive Device) task force
compound. The task force deals with intelligence and support
to C-IED teams on the ground. It was high profile as the task
force are busy 24/7 with the fight against Afghanistan’s
biggest killer, the cowardly IED. This had to be done with
minimal downtime to the working circuits to not interfere
with services supporting troops on the ground. Other
objectives were undertaken, however, the team’s final big
task was the revamp of an existing installation in the Brigade
Advisory Group (BAG) located in Camp Shurabak, the home to
ANA basic training where raw Afghan recruits are turned into
professional soldiers.
This was another high profile task as a live Ops room was
involved in the revamp and it was important that ongoing
operations were not interrupted whilst carrying out the
installation. When necessary, night time working was
required. The team befriended an ANA soldier whilst in
Shurabak with the affectionate nickname of “Commando”
due to the jaunty green beret worn. Commando was taken
on as the team’s apprentice and his help was greatly
appreciated.
Whilst the team was in Theatre, several notable events such
as the Royal Wedding and the death of Osama Bin Laden
occurred, resulting in a heightened security state and the
team on the receiving end of a barrage of enemy 107mm
rockets. Just as the team were settling in, it was time to
return to the UK, but not before a last supper of KFC with the
CPO liaison officer who had planned many of the tasks.
Before long we were enjoying de-compression on the beaches
of Cyprus. It was a welcome change of scenery and the
banana boat caused Sig Colin Wilkinson to emit a scream like
that of a school girl! Many thanks to all involved for a
successful and safe tour. Same time next year?
3
229 BERLIN SIGNAL SQUADRON
7th SIGNAL REGIMENT
229 (BERLIN) SQN ON OP ELLAMY – Sig Robert Pickup
Cpl Charlton and his Masterpiece!
One minute you’re on a leadership exercise, the next you’re in
a room being told you’re off on Operations… to Cyprus! That
was the reality for over a dozen members of 229 (Berlin) Sig
Sqn when we were told we were to deploy on Op ELLAMY.
The week ahead was a blur of issued desert combats, testing
equipment from laptops to Reacher, and then packing everything into carefully weighed and labelled boxes. We arrived
at RAF Brize Norton on a late Saturday night after a long and
tiring drive from Germany. The next morning we awoke and
prepped ourselves for a flight to Cyprus only to be told that
the computer says no and we are DELAYED! Little did we
know we’d be stuck there for a further 3 days. The delights
of microwave meals in the Gateway awaited us but luckily for
us there was a Subway across the road. Several members decided to take a bus ride to Oxford and enjoy a few beverages
and a Pizza Hut or (as we prefer to describe it) a detachment
bonding trip. Eventually, after more on the bus off the bus
action, we got to the C-17, loaded and ready. After a little bit
of genuine on the bus off the bus action, we boarded the C-17
and took our seats for our 5 hour plane journey. Finally, after
much delay and twiddling of thumbs, the newly formed Op
ELLAMY Troop were en route to Cyprus to save the day for the
RAF. We landed just as the sun was setting at RAF Akrotiri and
began the setup under the cover of darkness, but were soon
cut away to our beds for a short kip prior to the hard graft of
Reacher Medium setup. Bright and early the next morning under the direction of Lt Jim ‘Rogue Troopy’ Roberts we started
to get the service rolled out to the users. For the few of us
(Sgt Wayne ‘Al Pacino’ Lill and LCpl Rob ‘Apple Salesman’
Higgins) setting up the Reacher dish we looked ahead to the
possibility of months of sunshine and what could be. Maybe
we were too keen as the heavens opened and we were soon
left to contemplate months of donning goretex rather than
flip-flops and shades.
As we slotted into our routine a few of us were lucky enough
to visit the local water park or the beach located at the back
of camp (back to the sunny times!). Then in the following
weeks the Det got smaller and the shifts got closer together.
Three months later and there is just the Magnificent Seven
left – luckily, as the hottest months approach, we finally have
air conditioning (for the equipment of course…). All 7 of us
remaining look forward to the conclusion of a successful tour.
22nd SIGNAL REGIMENT
STAFFORD
CO
RSM
Lt Col GN Addley
WO1 (RSM) MS Morgan
With the tour now well over halfway through it is a good
chance to catch up on the achievements to date. As well as
taking forward the excellent work of our predecessors the
Regt has made its mark with the MDOR implementation and
the installation of 2 new ICS Dets within the changing CF
locations. From the new Comd, Col Fletcher, all the way to
our FOB ICS Dets excellent relationships have been created at
all levels enabling a far greater understanding of what we do
and how we achieve it. The Regt has quickly developed a
strong reputation for going about its business with no fuss
and getting the job done whatever the requirements. This
has been down to the initiative and determination shown by
all and has resulted in an extremely successful tour to date.
Sport and charity events continue to play a big part in the
deployment with regular events against our J6 counterparts
from other nationalities. R&R is in full flow and morale is high
leading into the last leg of the deployment.
JFCIS HQ
Made up of Regtl RHQ and Ops Rm staff along with a
smattering of IAs, JFCIS HQ continues to evolve in line with
changing requirements. We bid a fond farewell to the
outgoing Adjt Capt Vanessa Shipley after all of 61 days in
Theatre and wish her all the best for her new post in Corsham.
Welcome to her replacement Capt Alun Kelly, 2IC 214 Sig Sqn.
4
The heartbeat of JFCIS (Regimental WO1s’)
The Rugby World Cup is providing an added focus to our
activities and we all look forward to Wales bringing home the
Cup at the end of October! Under the sharp eye of WO1
(FofS) Paul Hughes a JFCIS football team has been
established, playing regular matches against teams from all
areas of Camp Bastion. The team, made up from JFCIS staff
who are far too old and the refreshing youth of the MDOR
team has been very successful and went into the recent
Bastion Charity Football tournament full of potential. After an
excellent run the team bowed out at the semi final but all was
not lost as we got to keep the Aston Villa shirts we were
allocated (brilliant!) The one area of concern was that we
received the only yellow card of the entire competition when
the RSM executed an excellent tackle (that any rugby flanker
would have been proud of!).
Marine Corps with a degree of competition for good measure.
Lt Smith, Sgt Shepherd and ‘Swanny’ attend whenever they
are not deployed, with Sheehan making a brave appearance
once but never going back.
220 SIGNAL SQUADRON (HELMAND SIGNAL SQUADRON)
BSN ICS Tp
OVERTASK AND SERVICE DESK – by Sig Heanes
“A day in the life of Sig Heanes”
Arriving in Bastion to discover my services in Leatherneck
were no longer required, I was quickly given the dubious
privilege of being “the face of HICSSS.” It’s been an
interesting and challenging run so far, learning about not just
the many aspects of HICSSS, so that I may better do my job,
but more importantly the people that make up the team.
JFCIS Team at Mercury Lines
MDOR TEAM – by LtSmith
The MDOR team have passed the half way point! The time
has passed rapidly though, with morale remaining sky high
and the task nearing completion. With over 40 MDORs
installed throughout Helmand Province, it has been a busy
time for all parties with Cpl Hart, LCpl Todd, LCpl Sheehan
and LCpl Swanson installing the equipment now with ease.
LCpl Lilino and Marine ‘Avatar’ Saunders have been busy
deploying into each location first, fitting air conditioned
rooms inside an ISO container in each location ready for the
installation of the MDORs.
In Camp Bastion, behind the scenes Lt Smith and Sgt
Shepherd have been busy managing the lads and contractors
in addition to co-ordinating the logistics associated with
MDOR deployment across Helmand Province. This has not
been without its challenges and on many occasions, despite
our best efforts, the locations seem to think that the
materials we send through are to construct new furniture
with! It is not unheard of to deploy the lads on a helicopter,
followed by planks of wood getting thrown in last minute!
Obviously it is not all work…. ‘Swanny’ started life on tour as
a 50Kg Weasel. Following a strict diet, plenty of exercise in
Camp Leatherneck doing Cross Fit and lots of hard work he
can be proud to have developed into a small sized man. He
has continued to progress as a runner, pushing the pace and
challenging Maj Spencer – the Officer in charge of the Corps
Cross Country team!
Cross fit run on
Camp
Leatherneck by
the Americans
has fast become
the workout of
choice for the
MDOR team.
Following our
1.7 mile run
there, it consists
of an hour
fragging in
some weird and
wonderful
exercises all
Sgt Shepherd and LCpl Swanson at Cross Fit in designed by the
American
Camp Leatherneck
With my thumb broken early on it became clear I was never
leaving the wire, but that suits me fine. It has unfortunately
stopped me training but it will heal. The MS desk has had its
work cut out, a hundred different jobs to do and only a
handful of them at any one time. Their day to day work
involves repairing laptops, fixing faults and dealing with users
all over Bastion. The MS desk must also involve itself with the
other departments, working closely with the Telemechs and
techs to ensure all the systems that allow the rest of the
combined services to communicate work together despite all
the difficulties. Believe it or not, there is more to life than
comms; I know it’s hard to believe but it’s true. In Mercury
Lines we have had a couple of jamming sessions to help with
morale. I have been practicing with my violin and I may even
be improving! Many of us were released for training and
completed a DITs course. I gave a lesson on the UK
Commando symbol the Fairburn Sykes Fighting knife and for
something different I taught an energetic waltz lesson to
some very enthusiastic dancers. I have since started a dance
class every Friday evening
at the EFI which is
becoming quite popular
and may lead to a second
dance evening on
Saturdays. There was
recently a Last Night of
the Proms style evening
with the Royal Marines
band and ‘Rule Britannia’
I had a great time and
danced the night away.
At the half way point now things are looking good for rest of
the tour. We have the move to look forward to and much
more besides I am sure.
POWER SECTION – by Cpl McDermont
Yet another month completed by the by the mighty Power
Section, with 3 of the section going on R&R and rest of us
raring to go. The section
has had to truly
multitask this month,
dealing with a totally
mixed bag of tasks. We
have been MCU mast
repair section, water
storage area tidy up
section, welfare area
construction section,
sun screen repair
section, command task
preparation section,
furniture removals
5
section and much more as well as our normal stuff as the
Power Section/MT. Sig Green returned from covering Cpl Bibi
whilst he was on R&R. I’ve never seen someone so happy to
be back in Bastion (but not for long), he practically hugged
“Noo Noo” our pet air conditioner when he got back.
LCpl Wood has recently returned to the fold from some well
earned R&R after a loan spell to the SQMS department and
has been promptly dispatched to wider Helmand for 10 days
for a new build. He’s probably missing the gym already. LCpl
Assan, Sig Campbell and Sig Leslie are all to be congratulated
on passing their Class 3-2 Exam, and Sig Campbell also passed
his Defence Instructional Techniques (DIT) course. Well done!
TECH SECTION – by Sgt Beckett
With over half the tour done we are now becoming experts
in our field, which is just as well because R&R has kicked in
and the real test came as I left the team for 2 weeks in the
capable hands of
Cpl Bruce
‘Dartanian’
Horoszko. I’m
pleased to report
that all members
performed well in
my absence and I
returned to a
section that was
even more capable
than when I left.
The first tourers
are performing well above what we expected and that
deserves a mention, so well done LCpl’s Cook, Alex ‘George
Agdgdgwngo’ Rogers, Hels Dickson, Tim ‘Professor’ Gordon
and Kieran ‘Buddy Love’ Budd. I arrived back just in time for
my birthday and the lads and lass had had a whip round and
got me and LCpl JT Cook a cake (it was his birthday too) along
with a couple of the weirdest birthday cards I’ve ever seen.
Thanks guys. I think JT was grateful to be back in the relative
safety of Bastion after his foray into the wilds of Helmand
Province, as I’ve never seen such a skinny kid devour so much
cake in one helping! We’re all
currently missing the team
jester, LCpl Steve Baker, who
is off on a jolly, sorry, away
working in other parts of
Helmand. Just when
swimming and eating
doughnuts became a
recognised profession I don’t
know. Hurry back Steve,
Buddy Love is missing you! And
finally, a big shout out to SSgt
Marie ‘Marge’ Simpson,
no-one actually knows what
she does or which department
she works in, but I don’t want
her to feel left out.
managed to escape for 2 weeks, (2 days early we might add,
with no jealousy whatsoever). Currently we have LCpl Justin
Reeve and Sig Alex Rees deployed on the ground to the
upper Gereshk valley installing vital UK comms systems in
anticipation of the handover of the checkpoint from US to UK
Forces.
Sig Kev Young
has been
welcomed back
into the fold
from RFC section
and was
rewarded on his
first day with a
trip down to PB2
to co-ordinate an
Ops Room move.
We wish him a
safe return. Sig
Seb McDonald
has crossed over to RFC Section to gain some Installation
experience after proving himself on the faults crews. We
have also seen Cpl Dave Cracknell and Sig McDonald
deployed to Lashkah Gah Durai for an important UK comms
uplift. LCpl Justin Reeve has been to FOB Shawqat to assist
the Signals Det with some cabling faults. LCpl Noel Van Zyl
has been the only continuous member of Line Section,
however we don’t want him to feel left out so he may be off
to Lashkah Gah to cover for the Inst Tech down there while
he is away on R&R. All in all a busy period for our section but
also a very fulfilling one. Congratulations must be given as
well to Sigs Alex Rees, McDonald and Young who have all
completed their Class 3-2 Workbook and their DIT Course.
FORWARD REPAIR TEAM – by Cpl Wilk
This month has been another very busy month for the FRT.
With jobs coming up thick and fast, we have spent very few
days in Camp Bastion:
Cpl ‘King Leonard’ Hodge and LCpl Hillyard deployed to PB
Attal to move their ops room and the Mobile Comms Unit, a
mast system. LCpl Hillyard also had the pleasure of visiting
OP Sterga, with its good views but lack of flights. He also did
a visit to CP Jeker with Cpl Wilk to once again do an Ops room
uplift. LCpl Mcloughlin deployed to PB Lashkar Gah Durai,
with the company of LCpl JT Cook from the Tech desk. This
was yet another ops room move and an upscale of
equipment.
Cpl ‘Lt Leonard’ Wilk has also been busy this month with
deployments to PB Shazad and PB Naidullah, moving ORAS
equipment into 2 newly built Ops rooms. During all this the
team has been working hard for the deployment of a new
location, and preparing to load a Chinook with 2.5 tonnes of
P.S. Has anyone seen LCpl Nurse? I think he may have been
posted on as I’ve not seen him in quite some time. If seen,
please return to me at: BSN ICS Tp, BFPO 792.
INSTALLATION TECHS – by Cpl Dave Cracknell
The last 4 weeks or so have been a bit of a blur for Line
Section. With not only a full scale move of HICSSS, we also
have Inst Techs spread far and wide across Helmand.
Manning issues are a constant source of despair for Sgt
‘Dinger’ Bell and Cpl Dave Cracknell as Sgt Bell has returned
to the UK on R&R and for the birth of his third son. Best
Wishes from all in Line Section! Sig Martin Bishop has also
6
comms equipment. This is without the other small tasks that
come up, like flying into PB Salaang to press one button or to
PB Kalang to turn on a piece of equipment. The Yeoman also
has developed a fetish for deploying air conditioning units to
all sites for the kit to sit in, which is the heaviest pop up tent
ever to be invented. A big thank you goes home to all our
wives, girlfriends and family for sending so many welfare
packs. Cpl Hodge has certainly been enjoying the biscuits.
Overall the FRT have been very heavily utilised, but it is all
good fun, and is helping the tour absolutely fly by for us,
bringing ever nearer the time when we return home to
reunite with our loved ones.
CF NES(N)
Main Operating Base (MOB) Price over the last couple of
weeks has been hectic
with all members of the
Det out and about fixing
faults. LCpl ‘G’ Hill went
on a well earned rest
back in Wales
(personally I don’t know
which is worse here or
over the Bristol
Channel).
Next episode in the LCpl
Ryan ‘Stud’ Leigh love
saga…… after returning
home on RnR he went
looking around Essex for the cast of “The only way is Essex”
but cupid struck and now I’m sorry to say ladies, Ryan is now
off the market!!! LCpl Ryan Leigh installing new
equipment “staying low!”
PB2 – by Cpl Young
This month has seen a complete change in PB2, with new
faces joining in the fun and games in our department. As it’s
the middle of the R&R plot people are having to take the
slack the other person has left and still give an excellent
service to the Battle Group. As a Royal Signals Electrician I
can honestly say it hasn’t been easy filling the roll of the Det
Comd, and will say I don’t envy Sgt Neeve and the job he does
one bit. In fact I am going to have a welcome back banner
and party food laid on for his return to PB2 from the UK. It
does however seem funny that no one wants to have a go at
the electrician’s job I think the idea of stinking of diesel and oil
24 hours a day is unappealing to them.
Sgt Hempstock, our App Spec, has left his current duties to
take on a bit of meching work, which he said would have
been fun if his toenail hadn’t of been ripped off by the
chiropodist a day before. He keeps that body part in a
container on
his desk and
shows
everyone
who dares
enter his
work space.
The Det dart
board as well
has seen
better days
and nearly 6
months old is
showing
signs that it
may have a
few dart
Cpl Young Supervising Sgt Hempstock on digging
board
in cable
tumours and needs to be
pulled down of the wall and
put to rest.
New to the Det is Sig Josh
Rowe who has replaced
LCpl Marc Holden who has
gone to a new location. He
may have left but he
certainly hasn’t been
forgotten, as in PB2 there
are hundreds of his posters
and collection boxes for
Our tumorous Dartboard needs to
the charity cycle event
be put to rest now we think
scattered everywhere
collecting money for a well
worthy cause. We also have some short term guests with us
who are filling in for people who are on R&R.
We have LCpl Stew Marks who has the oldest and heaviest
laptop in history how he managed to get that out here on the
same flight as his other kit we don’t know. He has replaced
Sgt Neeve who is awaiting the birth of his first child. Stew
will leave when LCpl ‘Hilly’ Hill arrives back from his R&R.
And to finish off we have RAF SAC ‘Crab’ Pimberly staying
with us. Sgt Hempstock was horrified when he found out he
was from the RAF and said, and I quote, “WHAT, AND I WAS
TALKING TO HIM LIKE A NORMAL HUMAN BEING”????
With all these changes going on it has to be said, its been a
busy month but the PB has coped well and we are now all
(especially myself) awaiting the return of our illustrious leader
Sgt Neeve and his collection of new baby photos.
LKG ICS TP - by LCpl ‘Melv-O’
August has been a very busy month for the Lashkar Gah ICS
Det with 8 members having been on R&R. To help us with
manning LCpl ‘Riggly Tin’ Corrigan was shipped in from
Bastion, after she realised what Lashkar Gah ICS Det was like
in comparison with Bastion and had a taste of the culinary
delights, Sangers or not she wanted to stay. The Playstation
3 the RSM had us sent has been a big hit with Lt Tope and Sig
Price who like to while away the hours shooting zombies or
aliens. Lt Tope even gets Sig Price to don his PPE just to get
into the correct mindset for their gaming. The words misspent youth spring to mind. The Det Sgt curse struck again.
Having already lost Sgt Overal last month to a catastrophic
Achilles injury (we have been updated that he doesn’t need
any major treatment and is recuperating at home), Sgt Binnie
followed suit when loading some unserviceable equipment
onto an air frame down at the HLS. He tried lifting everything
with his back not his legs, resulting in him being bedded down
for 3 days. He was then told to take it easy at work, so no
change there. The lads think it is just an excuse for him to
dodge Sangers.
SHAZAD – by Sgt Knight
Another month down at FOB Shazad and it’s been a busy one!
We are in the process of closing down the FOB Signals det as
the Battle Group, 42 Commando RM, is pulling out of this
location as the FOB down sizes to checkpoint (CP) level, to be
occupied by J Coy RM. FOB Shazad is one of the larger camps
in Helmand Province, covering quite a big area with a high
number of personnel and as such the tear down process has
proved to be at times both challenging and manpower
intensive. The FOB det has provided, when possible, persons
to help with the extra work load which has mainly consisted
of moving tented accommodation, collapsing working areas
and loading up ISO containers ready for transport. Even
though the taskings have been testing at times (especially in
the heat!) we’ve carried them out with a positive attitude and
7
have enjoyed an excellent working relationship with the
Battle Group over the past few months.Time at home has
been enjoyed by all those on leave and was a good chance to
catch up with family and friends and enjoy some cold British
weather. LCpl Myzak even remarked that Blackpool on a
Tuesday night was a more bleak and barren place than
Afghanistan! In addition to our usual work Sgt Knight and
LCpl Thornhill have had the chance to work with the RAF
Police Dog handlers on site to provide some human bait for
the dogs! We have also kept up with our PT programme and
now that we are into the second half of the tour, everyone is
looking forward to completing a successful deployment and
returning home to our family and friends.
SFPTC
OC
Ops O
Maj N Fisher
Capt J Tinnion
Three months into the tour and the team are now firmly
directing operations in and around the congested and ever
busy city of Kabul. Our man on the inside, SSgt Kennaugh, is
working his magic and has his ginger fingers in most pies,
extracting and working the system to pull together the best
intelligence product. He has networked from the outset and
built up a number of reliable sources which provide a real
time and viable product to keep the troops on the front foot
and safe. SSgt Donnelly has worked relentlessly to foster
links with the local community, laying the foundations for the
future SFPTC to continue to build upon that important
relationship with the local Community, Maliks, Elders and,
most importantly, the children surrounding Camp Souter. (He
always has a bag of sweets in his pocket). WO2 Bishop is very
much the conscience (Grandad) of the company.
He maintains the status quo and keeps us on our toes, or at
least a spinning bike. He knows and understands the Souter
area in which we operate and he dominates it with his
personality. ‘Mr Bish’ knows the people and they know him!
Capt Jase Tinnion has enjoyed being in the hot seat for the
company whilst the OC, Maj Fisher has been away on RnR,
although he does seem lonely without his wingman. The Ops
room has also enjoyed the sounds and delights of Sky Sports
in the OC’s absence.
Bland School – Kabul.
OC SFPTC, CO KJSU, Headteacher and assistant, SSgt Donnelly
and Caretaker open a new side gate in memory of Signaller
Wayne Bland (Bland School project is in memory of Signaller
Wayne Bland KIA – 11 Aug 2008)
MULITIPLE K10 – by Sig Collins
Comd
2IC
Sgt Sean ‘Bear Grylls’ Dinsdale
Cpl ‘Crazy Eyes’ Day
To date the tour has seen a variety of events. We ventured
out on a combined vehicle and foot patrol from Camp Souter
up to the perimeter of Kabul International Airport. During the
patrol we encountered a child who offered to sell us a cow,
and this was not for the first time we have been offered to
buy an animal and probably not for the last time either (look
out families, there might be a new family pet en-route). The
patrol was very keen on having a new member of the Multiple
to help with the gap left by R&R. Sgt Dinsdale, the patrol
commander, refused to allow the cow to join us due to having
not completed PDT.
However he did settle for a photo during which the cow got a
bit camera shy and proceeded to urinate on Cfn ‘One Dip’
Bodley’s boot. During the previous month there was also a
football match organised by SSgt Donnelly between SFPTC
and an amalgamation of 2 local football teams. Unfortunately
he forgot to organise a football for SFPTC until the last
minute, so K10 took a break from their busy schedule and
saved the day by providing 5 of our best players to help,
comfortably beating the local team 9-4. Finally
congratulations to Sig ‘Crystal Back’ Winson and his wife Bev
on the birth of their Second daughter Sophia May.
MT
MTWO
MT Sgt
WO2 Green
A/Sgt Liverton
The engine of the company, although just like an old Cortina it
can be hard to get them going in the mornings. Keeping the
vehicle fleet afloat in harsh conditions has tested every sinew
of Cpls Iles, Towers and LCpl Crayton. The job requires a
robust and level headed approach by all to keep the fleet
functional for the mission as well as keeping WO2 Green
happy. Frequent requests and last minute bookings keep the
team on its toes. The MTWO has thoroughly enjoyed his new
move up to the Ops Room, especially sampling all of the
Radio Operator’s brews. He has soon become known as
Grandad by the young operators and the humour between
him and ‘Mr Bish’ has entertained the Ops Room some what.
8
Check Nav
MULTIPLE K20 - Sig Gruby
Comd
2IC
Sgt Mike Secker
Cpl Morris
K20 were formed late last year and it’s been a long road to
getting to where we are now. Everything we trained for has
so far paid off. This showed massively when our multiple
were called out to assist in the extraction of the UK nationals
that were attacked at the British Council. After being sat in
and around a 6 hour fire fight, once the nationals were freed
from the safe room, we had to extract them to the British
Embassy, which meant that we had to aggressively and
quickly get the British Council staff to safety. To do this, we
had to drive through the city of Kabul at a rate of knots
knowing that we would be the next target. The sense of
achievement when we could say that they were now safe was
a moment that will stay with us for the rest of our lives.
MT taskings are running so well we are known as K Cabs.
“We WILL get you there” and we know the 4 corners of the
city like the back of our hands. On the guard side of life, well
its guard, so there is lots of time for the lads to think about
how to spend that Op bonus (If wives and girlfriends haven’t
already). QRF has been greatly rewarding, getting out and
patrolling amongst the locals. We have made a few friends
along the way as well as the odd hiccups like falling in to open
cess-pits. We have also had our share of scrapes with people
and vehicles, e.g, our fearless leader, Sgt Secker, free falling
off a recovery vehicle and face planting the floor and another,
Sig Callum Watson, running face first into the Man SV bar
armour. Touch wood nothing too serious. Our very rare
games of volleyball in ballistic pants have done much to keep
the morale up. Finally, there are numerous England v Wales
test matches in various sports, which much to my
disappointment has Wales leading, with some strong
showings from the Tight Eyes Brothers (Sgt Secker and LCpl
Lloyd) really have made our multiples inner competitive
streaks really come out. All in all a good tour so far and all the
lads are looking forward to our home coming parade in Bath
in November.
MULTIPLE K30 – by Sig Humphries
Comd
2IC
Sgt ‘Taff’ Langley
Cpl JJ Cascarina
July 2011 and it’s the morning of the Prime Ministers visit. All
the lads are up early preparing vehicles to head down to the
British Embassy Kabul (BEK) to provide enhanced protection.
The move down to the BEK was just a routine move for the
might of K30. Once at the BEK, LCpl ‘Bubblehead’ Doyle
positioned a Ridgback near the front gate which was manned
the whole time while we were at the BEK to show a British
presence. A Ridgeback commanded by Cpl JJ Cascarina was
then taken up to the HLS to provide another show of force in
conjunction with the BEK security staff. After a couple of
hours waiting the PM arrived in his helicopter (check him out)
and was escorted to where he would be staying with his Close
Protection (CP) team. The next day we continued to man the
Ridgeback near the main gate until the PM concluded his visit.
Sgt Langley, Cpl Morris and Sgt Secker – Time Out
All in all it was a job well done, although after not saying hello
to any of the Multiple the PM might have just lost 13 votes at
the next election. The Embassy staff were keen to note their
thanks to Sgt ‘Taff’ Langley, LCpl ‘Geordie’ Dan Hardy and the
rest of K30. Another highlight of the month was when our
illustrious leader Sgt Langley proceeded to deliver a set of
orders to the CO and a selection of other officers and soldiers
dressed in his new tailor made Elvis suit. The look on some of
their faces was one that we will never forget. It seems the
King really isn’t dead he is alive and well and patrolling Kabul.
Cpl Cascarina builds relationships with ANP just in the
SOUTER GDA
OC KABUL SUPPORT UNIT – by Maj Stuart Gunson
As we say goodbye to August and move into September we
also move into the second half of the tour and the finish line
firmly in sight. Especially for those who’ve already completed
their R&R, for those left behind it is a case of taking up the
slack of the many guard duties to be completed and also
covering the day to day duties of those enjoying some well
deserved time at home. Despite the heavy work load some
are under, spirits are still high and everyone is making the
most of the many facilities available here at Camp Souter.
LAD – by Cpl Disney and LCpl Davies
Normally August is a good month, it involves summer leave
and you do twice the amount of drinking compared to any
other month (except for Christmas!) due to all the BBQ’s and
time off. Alas for the LAD in Camp Souter August has bought
yet more work. Some is routine, however ISI’s have become
the bane of all our lives as every 21 days each vehicle is
bought in for us to inspect and we usually find at least a few
jobs. When we aren’t inspecting vehicles, drivers are breaking
them and complaining about their air con! With only one set
of kit for the whole camp, it can sometimes take a while to
fix. The R&R period is now in full swing, this does have a
negative effect on the stag list, however we all get our chance
of 2 weeks deserved rest back in the UK (or Germany), which
is definitely the highlight of the tour. Sgt Gempton hadn’t
seen much of August before he left. He simply said “Right I’m
off, Tatty Bogles!” then with not a care in the world he
headed down to MT for his transport, forgetting to pass the
LAD phone to LCpl ‘Dizz’ Disney (and Richie). To be honest,
and whisper this, we want him back, it’s just not the same
without him. He makes us laugh without even doing
anything, he just sits there looking like that alien from the
80’s classic “MAC & ME”.
Cpl Mark Armstrong continues to shine while he works with
the OMLT gaining a first class reputation for repairing the
unusual. He takes an OCD like professionalism to working
with weapons and bringing them to an “as new” state. We
have only ever seen this before when he’s in his room, fan
switched off to save dust spread, gloves on to stop finger
prints, magnifying glass out to see in x10 zoom, painting his
Warhammer figurines. Dedication! WO2 (AQMS) East has
9
yet to find out actually what the OC troop does apart from
write the monthly news letter, spend as much time as
possible in the gym, hob nobbing with senior officers, gate
crashing random quiz teams, collecting military flashes,
purchasing items from Amazon, making the odd cup of tea
and being forced into buying the milk shakes. Most of which I
have been unable to carry out due to the huge work load.
HQ ISAF ICS DET – by LCpl Arundale
I told you l could get it to do a wheelie
found that he quite likes the heat, spending time away from
his air conditioned office patrolling the shop floor looking for
tasks to do. These tasks mostly include parting his infinite
wisdom into every job going, including changing a light bulb.
KABUL J6 NOC – by WO2 (FofS) Steve Read
Life in the NOC has had a period of respite whilst the OC has
been away on R&R. We still get just as much done, but there
is less talk about it all. The Ops Offr, Flt Lt Nick Bolan, has
been covering for him from his desk so has been absent from
the NOC, it is amazing how quickly the TV developed a fault
whereby Sky News keeps reverting to the music channel/F1/
MotoGP/Aerobics “Oz style” etc, when the cats away…..
So another month down, not so many to go now, August has
been quite a busy month with the first of the R&R plot kicking
in, starting with LCpl ‘Mike’ Arundale so we’ve been a man or
a few men down, at this moment in time Lt Ben Woollan and
Sgt Dan Tooke are on the same R&R period too. LCpl Dan
Best has moved from KAIA to our location so we have a little
bit more boypower. Since we started the tour we have been
collecting supplies for the children’s hospital here in Kabul.
LCpl Best and LCpl Craig Mactaggert did a few recces’ down
to the local hospital before they went down with all of the
supplies, which amounted to rather a lot actually, such as
shower gels, toys, soaps, toothbrushes and other things along
those lines, and in the middle of August Cpl Laura Hosty and
SSgt Mick Lawrence both went down to the children’s
hospital and gave them all the things we have acquired and
spoke to some of the local people down there. This all
happened due to SSgt Lawrence who planned this within the
first week of tour, its good to be able to see the benefits of
our planning and contributions. The charity event is still going
on we have other visits to IDP Refugee Centres and various
state Schools in late October too.
Cpl Hosty visiting a local children’s hospital
Flt Lt Bolans RAFishness may be rubbing off don’t you know
SSgt Tony Raby has spent his time preparing for R&R, getting
all his notes in order and briefing WO2 (FofS) Chris Klass
ready for him to take over in his absence. Tony has promised
everyone that the day before he left was his last ‘Free Food
Friday’ when he eats whatever he likes due to all his hard
physical work during the week. When he comes back he will
be a new man, no more cream cakes, and exercise twice a
day, promises, promises.
As time rolls on the Ops Officer is more than often found
staring at the horizon, formulating his escape plan. If the OC
doesn’t agree to this plan for getting home in time for the
baby’s arrival, I’m sure he will soon be found at the back
fence of camp, stacking up cakes and parcels (of which he
thankfully has plenty) to get him over the fence and he will be
gone. A special vote of thanks from all in the NOC and the
lucky watchkeepers from ICS Tp for the delicious cakes from
‘Ma’ Bolan, we especially enjoy the lemon cakes and the
commander is amazed how the operational output of the
troops is directly linked to your kind efforts.
KABUL ICS TROOP
With Lt Woollan away on R&R I have moved to HQ ISAF to
cover, which has been eventful to say the least, however, I am
10
A bit more on the fun side, the det got involved in a football
tournament and actually did rather well, managing to get all
the way to the semi finals, then…true to English form we got
kicked out by Ze Germans, not so fun. At least we didn’t get
kicked out from the off, every cloud and all that.
KAIA ICS DET – by LCpl Francis
With the R&R plot fully underway the countdown has begun
for the rest of KAIA. Cpl Steve Whitnall and LCpl ‘Smudger’
Smith have had their respite. This month we waved farewell
to LCpl Best who left for HQ ISAF and welcomed LCpl Charlie
Wilson who arrived from Camp Souter. LCpl Wilson seems to
have adapted well to life at KAIA realising that ‘stagging on’ is
no longer one of the benefits of everyday life. It has been a
busy month for both the NER and AMNOC Dets due to the
orphanage visits, football practice, Table Tennis, gym sessions
and poker tournament. The orphanage visits were conducted
by Sgt Johnny Howells and LCpl Smith. They provide much
needed support for the children at the different locations
with items such as fridge freezers, clothes, food and
stationery materials. This was purchased with the money
collected through charity events conducted by personnel at
KAIA. So far $5701 has been collected. All of this has
benefited the Help the Afghan Children Charity. Future
events will be collecting money for Sands UK.
NEWS FROM BLANDFORD
15th SIGNAL REGIMENT (INFORMATION SUPPORT)
SO1
RSM
Lt Col I A J Condie
WO1 (RSM) McNab
MUDRUNNER – by LCpl Darby
One overcast Sunday morning in May, 6 brave crazy members
of 600 Sig Tp arrived to take part in ‘Mudrunner’, which is
described in the paperwork as ‘6ish miles of gruelling cross
country interspersed with 10 different tests of strength,
endurance and co-ordination.’
We were ready for this; however when the start line began
with a mile of steep up-hill, I think a few of us began to
wonder what the next 5 miles held in store, needless to say,
we soon found out!
To finish, the last mile of the course led us through a lake, up
a hill, then back down to cut through the lake again to reach
the finish line. All of this was in aid of the 2 charities The Army
Benevolent Fun and Naomi House Children’s Hospice, and we
successfully met our target of raising £500.
15 SIG REGT (IS)(GERMANY)
First and foremost in our thoughts, we want to wish all our
deployed personnel in BATUS, BATUK and HERRICK a safe and
successful tour. On a brighter note, congratulations to Si and
Christina Aunger on the arrival of their children Susan and
Alexa, double the trouble, did I say trouble?…I meant joy of
course.
Well it has been another
turbulent period in the history
of 15 Sig Regt (IS)(G). We have
lost Capt Pete Levick on
commissioning and Sgt Lee
Jermey has been whisked off
to JHQ, we wish them all the
very best. We say hello and a
hearty welcome to WO1 (FofS)
Ferguson, WO2 (FofS) Wood,
Cpl Dave Fletcher and Cpl Tom
Fyvie. Welcome to the family!
We also wish to welcome back
our returning deployed
personnel from HERRICK glad
to have you all back safely.
FofS Andrea ‘I’m a foreman get me out of here’ Brewington laughing all the way!
We ran as 2 teams of 3, the first of which was made up of
FofS Andrea ‘I’m a foreman get me out of here’ Brewington,
Sgt Richie ‘Nice tights!’ Hill and Sgt Dickie ‘Simon Cowell’
Widdison. The second team included Cpl Darren ‘Daz’ Day,
Cpl Richie ‘Do ya like my belly?’ Calladine and LCpl Will ‘Tron’
Darby.
‘Puddle’ is too weak a term for the great expanses of
muddied water placed in our path, starting knee deep and
quickly becoming deeper, each few sets of which were
broken up with cheeky hills and slopes which had many
people losing their footing and slipping and sliding to the
bottom.
Of course, the cameramen, just where you didn’t want them
to appear – at the tops of the hills and around the deeper
water-obstacles, where they caught every slip and grimace.
The Regimental event of the
year, Ex UNIFIED ENDEAVOUR,
was a HUGE hit with the
Germany based personnel this
year (as every year). Thank you
to all those who organised the
event and looked after our
participants so gracefully.
Undoubtedly the highlight of
the exercise was the dinner
night and the chance to relax,
mingle and get to know all of
our counterparts in the UK, and
soak up plenty of the “spirit”
present in the Mess bar.
Everyone who took part talked about nothing else for weeks,
Sgt Jim Halliday was particularly enthusiastic over his day of
participation and had nothing but praise for the
accommodation in Blandford.
Unfortunately it has been revealed post Ex that those
personnel from Germany who deployed on Ex UNIFIED
ENDEAVOUR are now out of `walkers hours` and can now
only drive to and from locations!
The Highlight of the year for the Germany based personnel,
the Families Summer BBQ, was a great success, with the
weather pulling through at the last moment to ensure a lovely
day. Kids were treated to a Bouncy castle and Face painting
amongst many other games and activities, giving hard worn
parents a chance to sample the `Love Inn` produce in peace.
11
The obligatory quiz, designed especially with kids in mind, was
duly won by the table containing most of the “Big Kids” …..
As none of the real kids could remember who Sponge Bob's
friend was or which colour Tinky Winky was.
The barbeque food tasted particularly good, despite the
attempts of our colonial friend and Chef for the day Sgt Chris
Foley, with the odd upset stomach being put down to the
“salmon mousse” (vague reference to Monty Python there
for those who miss it).
The local Ops Mafia were in attendance and arranged for Mr
‘Shaggy’ Shenton to win the prize raffle much to the delight
of all attendees, and there were absolutely no cries of foul
play. A huge thank you to the organisers SSgt YofS Sutton,
Sgt Halliday and Cpl Bond whose hard work and imagination
gave us all such a fantastic day.
Looking forward we prepare to say farewell and stay safe to
SSgt Tony Tye, SSgt John Patterson, Sgt Dave Milner and Sgt
Jim Halliday who deploy in the coming weeks on HERRICK.
We look forward to a busy period in the year with support for
Ex RHINO STAFF looming and continued support for BATUK
and BATUS.
Bde, SSgt (FofS(IS)) ‘Super Danny’ Cooper on promotion
internally to WO2 within the DII-D section, SSgt (FofS) Ashok
to 225 Sig Sqn and SSgt ‘Stabilisers’ Whittaker to 600 Sig Tp.
We wish them all the best in the future and look forward to
catching up with them at some point.
EXERCISE UNIFIED ENDEVOUR – by Cpl Metcalfe
Ex UNIFIED ENDEAVOUR 11 was the unit annual battle camp
that was conducted in the form of a Company level exercise,
with exercising troops divided into 2 enhanced Platoon
formations. We deployed to separate locations in order to
conduct Section, Platoon and Company level Basic Close
Combat Skills. The main focus was to revise and improve the
standard of soldiering skills in the unit. The exercise took
place in a little known area called Cardiganistan, which is
easily missed on the map but can be found occasionally in
Sennybridge Training Area.
DII-D – by Cpl Wint
The first couple of days were a round robin of training stands
that included such wide ranging areas as CIED, a map reading
exercise, foreign weapons and radios. There were 2 Patrol
Base locations established with personnel from the diverse
branches of 15 Sig Regt (IS) working together to provide
security to the area.
The DII-D team have been kept hard at work for the past few
months with a new system being introduced. This new
system is due to replace the current J1J4 that is used on Op
HERRICK and around the world. After delivery of the system
to our “Bunker” in the Land Systems Reference Centre, our
team was required to carry out User Acceptance Testing to
ensure it can “do what it says on the tin”.
During the exercise we experienced various scenarios based
on real life situations including a casualty evacuation, where
some members of 1 Pl were too weak to lift the casualty
(which admittedly may have proved a challenge to most of
the British Army). Members of 1 Sect 1 Pl also enjoyed the
free phys they received from deploying up the hill from the
Patrol Base they were occupying.
So, a mere 2 week period was set aside to carry out the
relevant scripts. Six months later the final script was signed
off, ready for the next phase of testing to begin. SSgt Martin
Baldwin ran with the testing, and appears to have acquired a
greater percentage of grey hairs over this period. SSgt Ian
Fincham showed his Scottish side on numerous occasions as
various scripts that should have worked, failed to be
completed time after time.
After the initial phase of the exercise the troops were all
brought in to Farm 5 where they received lessons on survival
from some Special Forces types. This was followed by a BBQ
prior to receiving orders for the next move, which was a
deployment of a few days in sunny Cardiganistan with
minimum survival kit. The exercise was wrapped up by a
themed dinner night that was enjoyed by all involved, where
apparently a 2 can (at a time?) rule was in force.
Due to the prolonged period, the majority of the DII-D team
have missed the summer sunshine being shut inside staring at
computer screens, so we still maintain the pale almost
translucent geek image perfectly. Only Sgt Chris Slade and
Sgt Daz Morley managed to escape the endless scripts by
being deployed out to Op HERRICK.
15 SIG REGT (IS) MAFIOSO CORSHAM VISIT
– SSgt (FofS) Griffiths
With the final phase of testing nearly completed, the “Geeks”
will finally get some winter sun in Afghanistan as the system
will be being pushed out into Theatre towards the end of this
year; let’s hope they take their factor 50 with them.
NETWORKS – by Cpl Metcalfe
During the past few months members of Networks Branch
have been busy with various tasks which include the continual
commitment to provide Deployed Support to Op HERRICK, Ex
UNIFIED ENDEAVOUR 11, support to numerous systems within
the UK and overseas.
There has been a significant turnover of staff within the
Branch, and it is welcome to SSgt (FofS) Matt Griffiths, SSgt
(FofS) Bikal and SSgt (FofS (IS)) ‘Tell-Me-A’ Storey who have
all recently completed their respective courses and Sgt
McIntosh who joins us from HQ SOinC.
We have also bid a sad farewell to WO1 (FofS) ‘Mindy’ Ind
who leaves the team bound for 2 Sig Bde and an attempt at
the LECB, WO2 (FofS) ‘Scotty’ Thomas who is off to 7 Armed
12
It was decided that after all the hard work of the vast
numbers of supervisors in 15 Sig Regt (IS) (including
seemingly a significant percentage of FofS within the Corps),
that an educational day out had been well and truly earned.
Capt ‘Billy Bagpipes’ Wardrope kindly hosted a group of likeminded individuals at the ‘new and improved’ (unless you
have a car or hope there are signs to direct you anywhere)
’Corsham ‘Basil Hill’ site.
Presentations were given by Capt Wardrope on current and
future projects being run by ISS Core HERRICK Team, and by
SSgt (FofS(IS)) ‘Scratch’ Record in the new GOSCC building.
All those attending received a far more thorough insight into
what actually takes place at the other end of the telephone
when escalating faults and issues, and also gained greater
appreciation of the work that goes on in these organisation
supporting operations and exercises in the UK and worldwide.
No educational day out would not be complete without
retiring to a suitable venue to discuss the lessons learned
throughout the visit, and SSgt (FofS) ‘Petey’ Fraser
commendably ensured that one of the finest local
establishments was found for this purpose. Discussions went
on for several hours until every detail of the visit had been
thoroughly dissected, before it was time to return to
Blandford.
NEWS FROM TRAINING
OC SSM 2 ARMY TRAINING REGIMENT
ATC PIRBRIGHT
Maj S V D Hargreaves
WO2 (SSM) L Jones
With 4 out of the 5 Tps in training, there has been little time
for any members of the Sqn to get away on courses, military
or otherwise. The main event within the establishment over
the last month was the Cpls’ mess function, which thanks to
Cpl Louis Simpkins was a resounding success. The new Sqn
OC, Maj Hargreaves, has now settled into life at ATC(P),
embracing all aspects of the training environment.
Congratulations needs to be extended to our illustrious SSM,
WO2 L Jones, who gained a Commander in Chief certificate
for Meritorious Service - an extremely prestigious award.
THE JNCOS’ MESS SUMMER FUNCTION 2011
– by Cpl Lee Elliott
The summer function is always an eagerly anticipated event in
any Mess’ calendar and for the members of the JNCOs’ Mess
at Army Training Centre Pirbright this year was no exception.
As always, planning for such an event would be a mammoth
task and this year the responsibility for the arrangement of
the event was given to Cpl Louis Simpkins from 1 (Fowler)
Sqn. To assist him in the planning and execution of the
Summer Function he had an elite band of merry men (and
women) from across the Centre to assist him: Cpl Holly
Percivil, Bdr Vinny Pulham and Cpl Rai.
The first order of business for the organisers was to decide
what the theme should be. The JNCOs’ Mess is easily the
largest Mess in the Centre with well over 250 members.
These members include, Section Commanders from across all
3 Regts, Gym Staff, Med Centre staff, QM’s Department and
NCOs from every dark and dingy corner of the Centre who
only seem to appear when the promise of a party is
mentioned. All members come from various different capbadges across the Army, all with diverse expectations of what
a Mess function should encompass. Many ideas were
canvassed to the members of the Mess and the overwhelming
feeling was that something with a relaxed atmosphere should
be the order of the day. The date for the function had already
been decided as 2nd July 2011, which would be the weekend
after the world famous Glastonbury Festival. With this in
mind, it was decided that the Mess would take its inspiration
Sqn Cpls in their festival gear!
from this legendary event and have a festival themed summer
function.
Planning for the occasion started early in the year with the
committee encountering the normal problems that crop up
when organising a function on a large scale. The primary
constraint, as always, was the budget. The committee
needed to ensure that everyone would be entertained for the
entire evening. Obviously at a festival there should be live
music, but would this be enough to keep the finicky members
of the Mess entertained? This quandary required the
committee members to think outside the box and draw
inspiration from other festivals that they themselves had
visited in the past, whilst still working within the constraints
of the budget.
Over the next few months the committee, under the
leadership of Cpl Simpkins went through the rigmarole of
booking bands and other entertainment, catering companies
to feed the 200 guests that would attend the event, buying
prizes for the raffle and decorations that would give the Mess
a festival feel as well as many other things. Just as everything
seemed to be going to plan a band would cancel due to a
prior engagement or a catering company would drop out due
to other commitments. All of these things ensured that Cpl
Simpkins and the other committee members really earned
that much sought ‘extra line’ on their SJAR. Nevertheless, as
the date drew closer everything seemed to be coming
together. One thing that had escaped the attention of the
committee was a name for the event. No one could come up
with a name that seemed appropriate for the festival. Then,
one night over a pint in the Mess after a particularly difficult
day of training new recruits, Cpl ‘Airborne Mitch’ Mitchell
came up with the name SCREWFEST. The name proved to be
popular with everyone who was in the bar at the time,
(whose judgement may have been impaired after a few pints)
and the name was immediately adopted.
A day or 2 before SCREWFEST with everything booked, there
only remained the relatively minor tasks of setting up some
tentage and a stage. With over 200 people down to attend
the event it seemed that these tasks would take no more than
an hour or 2 on the Friday before the event if everyone
chipped in. However, as always seems to happen when some
tents need putting up, everyone had a ‘lesson to do’ or a ‘fast
ball from the SSM’, which somehow meant that they couldn’t
13
lend their assistance. So these final odd jobs fell to those of
us who knew how grumpy Cpl Simpkins would be if we didn’t
help him out in the preparation of the venue. In all, a handful
of Cpls from 1 (Fowler) Sqn helped out with the final
groundwork. Cpl Kenny Kentgens and Cpl Jeff Jefferies
helped by putting up tents, Cpl Phil Pacey drove the forklift
and moved Portaloos to give that authentic festival
atmosphere and Cpl Bret Verth stood around drinking a can
of cider and offering ‘encouragement’. These ‘final odd jobs’
took these heroic volunteers until the following afternoon to
complete (one hour before the event started).
Notwithstanding the final exertion and the lack of assistance
from the remaining Mess members the night was a
resounding success.
Approximately 200 guests attended the event. Two live
bands, Indie Patrol and Version, who played a mixture of
covers and their own songs, entertained the guests. When
the bands were taking a break a live DJ stepped in to carry on
the entertainment. Whilst this was going on a magician
regaled the attendees with card tricks and fire eating. There
was also a ‘bungee run’ and ‘bucking bronco’ for anyone who
was feeling energetic. The revellers were fed by a burger van
and ice cream van, both of which added to the festival mood.
There was the obligatory raffle draw which included some
amazing prizes such as tents, sleeping bags and iPods.
Everyone who attended dressed in line with the theme, many
people could be seen wearing straw hats and wellies. Some
took it upon themselves to come in fancy dress. Overall,
everyone who attended enjoyed the night and had nothing
but high praise for the efforts that Cpl Simpkins and the other
members of the committee had put in to making this years
JNCOs’ Mess Summer Function a total triump.
As expected, when it came to tidying up the mess and
packing away the tents everyone had ‘prior engagements’!
EXERCISE SOLDIER’S SPIRIT – by Rct Knight and Rct Somerfield
Our first night out comprised of many new experiences and it
felt like it was the real kick-off to Phase 1 training after a week
of administration and introductions. We firstly marched up to
the range and had a lesson on ear defence, the different types
and when to use them i.e. prolonged noises or loud bangs.
We then experienced such ‘loud bangs’ on the live firing
demonstration where we were introduced to the SA80 and
Light Support Weapon. We learnt that the SA80 would be our
personal weapon and we would begin lessons the following
week in preparation for the much anticipated Weapon
Handling Test and range practices. The Tp next observed a
pyrotechnics demonstration of trip flares, smoke grenades,
firing blank rounds and what they simulated when used on
exercises e.g. smoke grenades are used for signalling, road
side explosions and cover. Everything was becoming a bit
more surreal, made more so by the next lesson, setting up
ponchos! Using bungees and tent pegs we were shown how
to erect ponchos as a shelter by 2 tree trunks. A helpful
shelter that provides cool shade from the hot sun and dry
conditions when raining, therefore good hygiene and morale!
It also acts as good camouflaged protection from enemy
sightings. We learnt both the A-frame and lean-to positions
and it wasn’t long before we were putting up our own. I
found this interesting because I love being out in fields at
home, fishing and hunting.
Our next lesson was about the essential need to keep clean
and in good order whilst in the field and the detrimental
effects if we didn’t. Also things you don’t normally have to
think about such as drinking water and going to the toilet.
The last lesson demonstrated cooking in the field. I was
amazed at how good and varied the meals and snacks were
inside the ration packs. Using our newly issued mess tins we
were shown how to use ‘hexi’ blocks and the cooker. It was
also explained that due to occasional difficulties in re-supply
£10 or $10 is issued in each ration pack in case you need to
purchase local food and that if there wasn’t any money in
ration packs we should see the Tp Sgt……..some people
did…….!!
The Tps then put it all into practice: making the harbour,
cooking the food and sleeping with a bit of sentry duty. I was
on stag at about 0140 and me and 2 others had to patrol the
boundaries of the harbour and provide protection to the Tp.
We awoke relatively early and washed, shaved and cooked
breakfast with our newly learnt skills. We moved on to a few
team tasks which got us working together and whilst we
were tired. Ex SOLDIER’S SPIRIT was a great taster and was a
useful insight into what fieldcraft is all about. Next time I
would imagine we would need to be more disciplined and
aware but needless to say it was good fun!
11th (ROYAL SCHOOL OF SIGNALS)
SIGNAL REGIMENT
BLANDFORD
CO
RSM
Lt Col J A L Vosper
WO1 (RSM) M Yendell
ARMY WATER POLO CHAPIONSHIPS REPORT
– by WO2 (SSM) Love
First of all our Phase 2 Soldiers nominated to play from the
Harrogate Cup where either posted or going through PNCO.
Giving myself a headache to drum up support from the wider
Regt which was not an easy task, but eventually I scraped a
team together to travel to Aldershot. Nine teams turned up
split between 2 Pools of 5 and 4 teams. The draw was made
and 11 (RSS) Sig Regt where in Pool 2 with 4 teams. Our first
game was a baptism of fire with a scratch team playing
together for the first time. Surprisingly we beat 1 SCOTS 6-0
and set a benchmark for others to follow. The second game
would be a stiffer challenge, 11 Trg Bn (REME). Yet again the
team played like a team and listened to instruction ‘keep it
simple and mark tight’ job done, another 6-0 victory. Having
had lunch and 2 games under our belt rumbles of semi finals
14
spread between the team, not to temp fate we had one more
game to secure it and quashed any unnecessary chit chat.
Capt Anderson
WO1 Gutteridge WO2 (SSM) Love Capt/Coach
WO2 (SMI) Stowell
SSgt Lee
Sgt Buckingham
Sgt Lamonby
Cpl Farrow
Cpl Smith
Cpl Morley
Third game an unknown quantity JT CBRN. We had never
seen them before and did not recognise anyone within their
team. A hard game followed, but eventually we beat them
1-2. It was the reality call the team needed which put feet
back firmly back on the ground. Meanwhile in Pool One RMAS
were romping ahead and qualified for the semis with ease
while 30 Sig Regt narrowly, by goal difference, reserved their
place in the semis as our next opponents. In the Semi Final 30
Sig Regt were a one man band, Maj Griffiths. We knew we
had to mark him tight and the game was ours. SSgt Lee/WO2
Stowell where both in charge of wrecking his chance of
victory and we beat them convincingly 6-1.
RMAS were also victors against JT CBRN. In the final. having
watched and analysed the opposition, they had 4 major
players who where bossing their opponents. The team talk
was about the importance of putting our chances away and
marking tight; the essence of any ball game. The team were
outstanding and they pushed and pulled RMAS into
submission at half time 2-1 up.
After a quick change of tactics we scored another 2 goals,
RMAS heads dropped and when the final whistle went we
were 4-1 winners. 11 (RSS) Sig Regt graciously took the title
for the third time in as many years as Army Champions.
Players Special mentions to Sgt Buckingham (Cable Systems, Goal
Keeper) and WO1 Gutteridge (Defender) both regrettably will
be playing their polo out in civilian street very very shortly thank you both. A personal thanks for all the years you both
supported me and the Corps in the Inter Corps and Army level
polo.
1 (OUSTON) SQUADRON
OC SSM Maj M Moulton CD
WO2 (SSM) D Foster
SQUADRON UPDATE – by Capt Surje Gurung
As we now look forward to the August training break, without
a doubt, the first 6 months of 2011 has been extremely busy
for the Sqn. We are beginning to see some extremely positive
outcomes and the OC is genuinely impressed with the
enthusiasm, dedication and innovation day in day out from
Sqn personnel. The visit of the new COS went very well. It
proved a perfect opportunity for the key Sqn personnel to
meet him, and notably, the OC to brief him on our
achievements to date and future challenges that lie ahead.
He was very impressed with how well we have continued to
deliver training and the change we intend to implement in the
year to come.
All ranks are now looking forward to the August training
break and the momentum gained in the first half of the
training year shows no signs of letting up. With more Sqn
Quick Wins to achieve, mainly conduct of HGV Courses in
Blandford, Functional Skills Course Pilot, ITBR/ITUR
Confirmatory Field Exercises and ELUR (e-Learning and
Rationalisation) including Formal Instructor Evaluation and
Professional Development, it is obvious that the Sqn will face
another hectic second half of the training year.
Elsewhere in the Sqn, we would like to congratulate Sgt
‘Mozzy’ Parkes and his wife Gaynor on the birth of Isaac
William on 4 July, offer our massive thanks to Sgt ‘Molly’
Molyneux, a top quality instructor and all round top bloke,
who has moved to 2 Sig Regt since June 11, and wish a speedy
recovery to Sgt Govinda Gurung, who recently had knee
operation and is currently on sick leave.
Ready for the next lesson
On arrival at Netheravon Camp we were greeted by 2
qualified parachuting instructors who broke the group down
into 2 syndicates before commencing with the required
ground training. Throughout the next 6 hours participants
were subjected to wearing bright orange jumpsuits with
yellow helmets whilst learning the fundamental
characteristics of how to safely plummet towards the ground
at high speeds. This consisted of multiple lessons, to include
everything from operating the kit itself to hanging around in
suspended harnesses to practise reserve drills.
The lesson on jumping and rolling around on the padded floor
to simulate hard landings began to hit home when one
unfortunate experienced skydiver had to be airlifted to
hospital after breaking both his legs upon landing whilst in
view of a large crowd. This unfortunate event really aided Sig
Morris who was already turning white with anxiety, however
training had to continue.
Once all participants were ready for action and Sig Akhator’s
magical mind of endless questions had been exhausted the
time was upon us to don our kit and head to the flight line.
There was a sea of orange around the small seating area as
the first syndicate of 12 nervous Phase 2 soldiers boosted each
others confidence with banter and jokes about the dangers
and hazards one might incur if things do not go as planned.
At this high point of adrenaline the Senior Instructor in charge
of the drop zone announced that the winds were too high for
trainee parachutists and that there was a temporary hold in
place. This did not change as the remainder of the day
became a waiting game of hope whilst watching the wind
sock flutter as consistent gusts of wind prevented the soldiers
from jumping.
As the evening approached a command decision was made
and morale was rescued by a walk down to the local bar for
some beverages and an evening meal before retiring back to
the accommodation.
EXERCISE OUSTON SKIES – Cpl Griffiths
On Saturday 23 July at 0645, 20 adrenaline fuelled Phase 2
soldiers from 1 (Ouston) Sqn boarded a coach ready for their
adventure to Netheravon Camp. Ex OUSTON SKIES was
planned to be a 1 day first jump course designed to provide all
participants with an insight into the sport of parachuting and
to highlight potential for further progression by taking part in
ground training followed by a solo decent from an aircraft at
approximately 3,500ft.
Sig Pain forgets to tighten his leg straps properly
15
The next morning was fresh and calm so we headed up to the
hangar for refresher training. Morale was high and the
anxiety was rising until the evil windsock decided to spring
into action once again as the wind picked up. Sunday 24 July
consisted of many cups of tea and waiting around through
numerous weather problems.
By mid afternoon the Ex came to its conclusion as our joyful
coach driver Cpl Milne turned up for a cup of tea and a
sandwich before loading all kit onto the transport and
heading back to Blandford Camp.
Due to safety reasons unfortunately none of the exercise
participants had the chance to jump this time but were all
presented with their training record cards and a jump ticket
ready for their next attempt.
All in all the weekend was enjoyed by all and a brilliant insight
into the sport. It has also prepared these 20 Phase 2 soldiers
mentally and physically to take part in a decent from 3,500ft,
now it’s a waiting game for weather conditions to improve.
Come on Blue Skies!
CABLE SYSTEM SECTION UPDATE – by SSgt Sankey
A busy time in Cable Systems with gains and losses a plenty!
Firstly everyone would like to express a fond farewell to Sgt
Craig Buckingham, a true gent who will be missed by all (the
leaving do in Newquay was quality!). Craig has decided to
part from Army life after 12 years service and has landed
himself a job in Sydney, Australia, so good luck to you, Caz,
Lara and Leo!
The Section has had a couple of new members join with
several more coming and going in the coming months.
Welcome to Sgt ‘Alfie’ Garnett and Cpl ‘Leroy’ Thewlis. Lots
of changes are in play in CSS with changes to the ITBR (Inst
Tech) course to bring the trade forward into the 21st Century,
a case of out with the old and in with the new is receiving a
great reception across all levels. A final contextualised
training exercise will be up and running by October with ITBR
10/004 doing a lot of ground work during their course to
prepare themselves and future courses in piecing all the
modularised training together.
To assist us in our quest for change we welcome SSgt Micky
Lake, the first of many to fill the slot as SSgt in TDT SOinC
group and thus finally completing the link between training
and the field Army. Expect a busy time Micky, there’s lots
coming your way!
As always our instructors cover all areas of soldiering from
trade to sports and basic soldiering skills for the Phase 2s
aiding the Sqn development. Cpl Mark Griffiths recently led
Ex OUSTON SKIES, reported above. We have had to cancel
course ITBR 11/003 as there are too many Signallers in the Inst
Tech trade, which should have left a small gap in training.
BATTLEAXE TROOP
OC SSgt Capt N Flavelle
SSgt C Challand
BLANDFORD GARRISON MUSIC CLUB– by Cpl Taletawa
The music club was formed after seeing the amount of music
instruments in student’s lockers on block inspections. A few
of us permanent staff got together and thought up the idea
of starting the music club again. The original club was
defunct so we tried to salvage any leftover kit. Luckily we
found a sound system, amps, and a bass guitar. With this kit
plus our own personal kit a few of us started getting together
for jam sessions.
It was then we thought about getting other interested people
in, so our flyers went out and before we know it we had all
sorts of characters turning up from wannabe Eminem’s to
Pink! We did not have any kit to cater for this influx but we
managed to organise ourselves around taking turns in singing
on the one mic and when the power amps and speakers
decided to work with us.
As we got settled as a club and identified our band and
various performers we started organising a grand launch for
our club. On rehearsals we started weeding out acts that
were either offensive or worse, out of tune! We had to work
out a 2hr set list, thus the need to scrutinise the acts. The
evening before the performance we were given an
opportunity for a live rehearsal down at the Dolphin Club in
town organised by Ben Taylor. Nerves started showing as
soon as it was mentioned on rehearsals, now it sunk in that
we were going to play in front of total strangers! Excuses
such as ‘I’ve lost my voice’, ‘I don’t sing in front of people’, I
fainted last time I did this’ were soon flying in. We managed
to solve all those issues and the gig down town went
smoothly. The next day we had our grand launch and it was a
great success with a full house. It was a rare moment
because we had Phase 2’s, upgraders and Permanent Staff of
all ranks happily mingling and socialising together. The night
was a success in that we had more people turning up for the
weekly sessions.
The club is a mixture of Phase 2s and permanent staff from
the Regtl 2IC, Maj McCorry, RCMO Capt Topps to our number
1 fan, RSM Yendell. We also have dependents coming in
which is really good. The club is now into its 11th month
running and we keep getting more people coming in all the
time. Some simply turn up to listen while others turn up to
learn to play new instruments. The club runs on Tuesdays and
Thursdays every week. On Tuesday it’s for anyone wanting to
learn to play instruments (mostly drums!!) and Thursdays are
However due to our ‘go get ‘em’ attitude and willingness to
help we have filled the void with bespoke fibre and copper
courses for 81 Sig Sqn (V), 16 Sig Regt, 228 Sig Sqn and even
the Royal Navy!
The biggest disappointment for the Section and the Corps at
present is the imminent loss of the Lineman aspect of the
Driver Lineman Storeman. The longest standing trade in the
Corp has finally come to an end. The introduction of a new
style Basic Signalling skill shall come into play and line aspects
will be covered by all trade groups to cover the gap. There
will still be plenty of Linemen at heart to keep up the
traditions for a few years yet though!
Summer in Blandford makes it all worthwhile!
16
The club band entertains revellers at the Sergeants’ Mess
Summer Function
practice sessions for any gigs. Since the launch we have been
invited to play in various Sqn functions like Christmas and
summer events. We also played in the Sergeants’ Mess
Summer function this year which garnered great reviews! We
have some more bookings which we are rehearsing and
prepping for as this article goes to print.
So in all the formation of the music club has been a superb
success. We have started from nothing and today we are still
performing with the salvaged kit! Application for funding for
new kit is in the pipeline. There are a lot of players in the
formation and running of this club and they deserve our
heartfelt thanks for their support.
We will be a year old next month so a birthday gig is already
being organised. The club is open to everyone on course,
Permanent Staff and dependants. So to everyone coming
down to Blandford feel free to pop in and see what’s on offer.
As the saying goes, ‘if music is the food of love, play on!’
2 (CATTERICK) SQUADRON
OC SSM we RV’d back at the start point and managed to throw a boil
in the bag meal and dessert down our necks before we set
out for the night navigation phase of the exercise.
I set out 3 checkpoints for the night nav and wandered
between the 3 of them to keep an eye out for lost Phase 2s!
Maintaining light discipline at the checkpoint soon became
useless as the first pair of Phase 2s came walking over the hill
with their Gucci head torches making it look as if a 747 was on
its final approach to the checkpoint!
By midnight unbelievably all soldiers had returned and we all
got our head down ready for the next day’s activities. At
various points during the next 6 hours till reveille I was woken
by either Cpl Lawton’s snoring or 2Lt Mitchell’s dog snoring
or a tag team double act from the 2 of them! After a boil in
the bag porridge from the new rat packs for breakfast and a
wash and shave we got ready to move to Bramley training
area.
Maj J C Maynard MBE
WO2 (SSM) S Riste
SQUADRON UPDATE – by Capt K Bilney
Another issue already! The Sqn has been as busy as ever with
summer parties, sporting competitions and the much
welcomed summer leave period. Training of the Phase 2
soldiers is a busy and time consuming process with the
Permanent Staff conducting syndicate training during the
week and exercises, as described by Sgt Surendra in his
article, on a regular basis. Elsewhere in the Sqn, the usual
round of postings in and out have continued and the Sqn have
bid farewell to WO2 (SSM) Fraser who has moved to
Edinburgh UOTC as a PSI, SSgt (YofS) Nicky Lyons who is
moving the great distance to Scotton Hall, SSgt (FofS) Sundar
who has moved to 3 Div, Sgt Williamson who has moved to
HQ SOinC (A) as part of CSD Networks and SSgt Shapre who
finally persuaded Glasgow to let him go back to 14 Sig Regt
(EW).
We wish a warm welcome to lots of new faces, including Capt
Terry Harrison and SSgt Stu Welton, as the new Iron Tp
management team, SSgt (FofS) Si Hurst and SSgt (YofS) P
Thurston as part of SHQ and Cpl McGinley as a new Tp Cpl. It
is with a sad heart we report that there has been a sudden
death amongst the 2 Sqn instructional team, Mr Peter Garside
passed away on Friday 29 July. He was a highly respected
member of the Sqn and will have touched the lives of many of
the soldiers within the Corps. We send our love and
condolences to the family.
EXERCISE CATTERICK COMPASS - by Cpl ‘Foggy’ Fogg
On 30 July 2011 half of CEUR10/011 (including Cpl Stevie
Lawton, LCpl ‘Fletch’ Fletcher and LCpl ‘Spare Parts’ Bright)
along with Capt Terrance Harrison, 2Lt McGrath, 2Lt Mitchell
(plus dog) SSgt Welton and Cpl Hawkes prepared to take a
fresh batch of Phase 2 soldiers on to Ex Catterick Compass.
This is the first of the summative exercises conducted by 2
Sqn that the Phase 2 Comm Sys Ops complete after arriving at
Blandford. After a relatively late start in exercise terms
(0730), we loaded onto coaches, MAN trucks, minibuses and
Rovers, and made our way to Salisbury Plain Training Area
(SPTA).
On arrival at SPTA we dumped our bergan’s and split up into
our sections. We then had 7 hours to navigate between 13
check points spread out over the training area whilst
completing a variety of command tasks and challenges along
the way. The Phase 2 soldiers took it in turns to lead a leg,
and had to follow a bearing to the next check point. At 2000
Ropey Situation
At Bramley training area the Phase 2 soldiers took part in a
number of command tasks as well as getting the chance to
get some rounds down the clay pigeon range.
The Phase 2 soldiers all commented that they had enjoyed
themselves on the exercise and that they had learned a great
deal in terms of navigation due the way the training was
delivered. So we all got back in our modes of transport and
made the trip back to Blandford Camp for a quick turn round
of kit.
2 SQUADRON SUMMER FUNCTION – by Cpl Hawkes
This month Rhino Tp were given the task of organising the
summer function for the Sqn, an amazing medieval themed
The Executioners
17
night was organised. A spit roast pig was the food, with the
head being presented to the OC Sqn Maj Maynard on the top
table including the obligatory apple in it’s mouth. A photo
corner was set up where people could get their photos taken
with suits of armour, stocks or live birds of prey.
The birds of prey were kindly donated for the evening from an
animal sanctuary in Poole and they really added some
authenticity to the evening.
with the troops being put to the test when they came under
attack. Once we were settled into the rotation patrol orders
were delivered by the Tp Comd, I delivered my orders to my
section and was getting ready for deployment when Maj
Maynard MBE and WO2 Riste came to visit the ex and
accompanied the patrol. We came under attack and
casualties were sustained, but our care under fire and casualty
evacuation drills were very good and we still successfully took
the enemy position.
The Birds
Apple bobbing, Connect 4 and Jenga were there for the
troops to compete against each other and a lot of hilarity was
had to see a knight trying to beat Robin Hood at apple
bobbing.
Once the food had finished and the main hall was cleared the
raffle was drawn with a number of prizes being won, from an
iPod to music download vouchers. After the raffle the
evening then entered into the very unmedieval mosh pit with
the music being supplied by Cpl Taletawa’s music club and a
solo from LCpl Ben Taylor.
EXERCISE CATTERICK CULMINATION 29 – 30 JUL 11
– by Sgt Surendra
Ex CATTERICK CULMINATION took place over the period 29 –
31 Jul 2011 on the Blandford Training Area around the FOB
Thorpe AOR. The Ex was organised and conducted by
Beaufighter Tp and takes place every 6 weeks as part of
syndicate training package for Phase 2 Soldiers under Training
(SuTs). The aim of the ex was to further develop each
individual soldier’s personal administration under field
conditions, Battle Space awareness, individual battle skills,
BCD and IED drills and confirm syndicate training through
summative testing. The Exercising SuTs consisted of CSBR
10/024, CSBR 10/025 and 10/026 courses.
I went on the ex as a section commander of 2 Section, one of
the 6 sections deployed. This was a good opportunity for me
to enhance Basis Close Combat Skills (BCCS) in preparation for
my Part 1 CLM. The exe started with deployment orders
delivered by Tp Comd and Ops Offr. As soon as the orders
were delivered and the scenario set, battle preparation began
in earnest which included issuing of the necessary kit and
rations. After final confirmatory checks and rehearsals, we
moved off on foot towards the FOB Thorpe carrying all our
personal kit. Once Relief In Place (RIP) was conducted and
FOB Thorpe occupied, the Tp went into a Synchronisation
Matrix which consisted of 3 cycles, security and defence of
the FOB, QRF and patrols which were to be covered by 2
sections per cycle. Change over of each cycle took place
every four hours.
My section, alongside 1 Section, went straight into security
and defence of the FOB after the initial clearance patrol
returned. The task involved manning the sangars and VCP,
18
The gang
As we were rolling through the Sync Matrix, The FOB came
under multiple IDF and small arms attacks; scenarios included
multiple casualties with different natures of wounds and
injuries. It proved to be a challenge as every single person was
put to the test in all disciplines, first aider, rifleman, radioman
or commander. As expected, the drills got sharper the more
the troops practised. Endex was called on the morning of 31
Jul 11 and after a debrief and FOB turnaround procedures, we
moved back to the camp on foot.
The ex was very useful as it is based on the Contemporary
Operational Environment (COE). The majority if not all SuTs
had not found themselves in such a scenario before and is an
excellent way to introduce them to the realities of operations.
For me this ex was extremely useful as I got to practice all
drills and skills as well as my command and control. Overall, a
fantastic package and I hope Beaufighter Tp keep delivering
the same standard of training in future.
3 (HARROGATE) SQUADRON
OC SSM Maj M Solomons MBE
A/SSM SSgt M Turner
FREEDOM OF SWANAGE PARADE ON ARMED FORCES
DAY - by Cpl Hill and LCpl Tinsley
On Saturday 25 June members from all 3 squadrons of 11
(RSS) Sig Regt gathered in Swanage to exercise its freedom
of the town and march through it with bayonets fixed. We
were also carrying the handle from the stretcher used for the
first casualty in Afghanistan, which has been used in charity
events all over the world. The trip began nice and early, as
they always do when you have to work on a Saturday! The
journey from Blandford took about 45 minutes, where we
went to the local football club car park to practise all the last
minute details and iron out any problems of which there were
very few.
About an hour later, the CO, 2 I/C, RSM and OC Sqns arrived
and we were almost ready to go. After the compulsory
photos and a quick pep talk, we set off on the march to the
town which took us down by the sea front and past the
Mayor who took the salute. We then marched through the
town centre and up to a park where there were several
stands set up by the Corps’ Recruiting Team and other
departments within the Regt to showcase some of the Royal
Signals capabilities. There were also stands set up by the
locals, with food and most important of all, there was the
beer tent! There were also some veterans that had bought
along some classic military vehicles for the kids to climb all
over.
Once we were in the park the CO made a presentation to the
Mayor on behalf of the Regt. We were then free to enjoy the
day, our 2 free beers and the painfully long line for the BBQ.
After an hour in the park, some decided to venture into town
for the obligatory “cultural visit” to the pub, which was
appreciated.
3 (Harrogate) Sqn then went on a genuine visit to the local
RNLI station where we learned all about the efforts of the
local rescue teams and got to play on their boat and have all
our questions answered by a guru of the lifeboat world. After
that the Sqn went up to the Swanage Branch of the Royal
British Legion where we were welcomed by former Ulster Tp
OC, Frank Roberts and another free beer.
After a long day and night, 3 Sqn made the short journey back
to Blandford because we had to do it all over again the next
day with the veterans. So on the Sunday we started all over
again but with a bit of a later start, which was appreciated
after the night before. The Sqn marched the same route as
the day before, but this time we were marching with the local
veterans and attended a church service after the parade.
After the service and a nice break from the heat, the church
had put on some tea and biscuits for us along with music from
their local band which made for a great way to finish the
weekend.
The Regt thanks the people of Swanage and everyone who
took part in making us feeling very welcome and for their kind
words of support for all the Armed Forces.
CO 11 (RSS) Sig Regt presenting the Major of Swanage with a
memento of the occasion
EXERCISE HARROGATE ADVENTURE
Over the period 1 – 3 July members of 3 (Harrogate) Sqn
Permanent Staff and Phase 3 Upgraders deployed on Ex
HARROGATE ADVENTURE which is a bi-annual adventurous
training package. Organised by Cpl Jimee of Ulster Tp, 14
personnel went to Thorney Island, near Portsmouth, for 2
days of water sports comprising of windsurfing and dinghy
sailing. We left Blandford on Friday evening for the short
drive to Thorney Island. On arrival, Cpl Jimee and LCpl Tolok
(the advance party) had sorted out all of our accommodation
and recce’d the local area so all we had to do was grab a bed
and then we had a small team building session in the local
vicinity. In the local pub for local people we were actually
made to feel very welcome and a good night was had by all.
The next morning we had a bit of a lie-in as the briefings and
training would not commence until 0900. Firstly we had the
mandatory Health and Safety brief and then we split down
into 2 groups. Group 1 were the windsurfing group and group
2 were the dinghy sailing group. After a couple of hours dry
land training, kit issue and waiting for the tide to come in, we
were finally set loose on the water. The dinghy sailors
managed pretty quickly to get to grips with sailing in a
straight line, tacking, coming about, capsizing etc and it was
not too long before LCpl Graham Cockburn thought that he
was a member of the Royal Signals Dinghy Display Team and
would aim his boat at everyone else’s and see how close he
could come to hitting them. For the most part he was very
accurate and actually did hit other boats, and people, and
windsurfers. Towards the end of the session we paired up on
the dinghies and had some races. These races also seemed to
include becoming pirates and boarding other people’s
dinghies, deliberately capsizing them or throwing people
overboard. Anything to win, but ultimately there were no
winners as everyone gave up in the end!
As for the windsurfing on the first day, this group did really
well. It only took maybe 30 minutes for the likes of Cpl Jimee
to really catch some wind and set off. Unfortunately he did
not know how to stop or turn and promptly proceeded to sail
right out of our designated area and in amongst all the yachts
that were berthed. Eventually he fell in and had to wait for
the safety boat to come and give him a lift back to shore.
Once we had finished for the day and got all of the kit sorted
out, the Gurkhas built a fire and made a delicious curry. They
also made some home made chilli sauce and told us that it
was pretty mild. ‘Yeah right’. There were huge plans afoot to
go out into Pompey on the Saturday night, watch the David
Haye fight and paint the town red. What we did do was
under estimate how hard the day’s activities were and we
were all shattered and tucked up in bed by midnight. Bunch
of Cinderella’s. Well, all of us apart from Party Boys Cpl Dutch
Holland and LCpl Daz Kott who we did not see until 6am the
next morning.
SSgt Skene and other members of 3 (Harrogate) Sqn
19
On the second day the groups swapped over and tried the
other activity. The wind had picked up a bit from the previous
day making things a bit more exciting and wet but this just
added to the fun. Just ask LCpl Craig Ancliff who spend most
of the morning strung up in his dinghy’s rigging and swearing
a lot. Ultimately, the guys at Thorney Island provided us with
an excellent weekend package which was both fun and
relaxing at the same time and I am sure the Troop will return
soon.
SWANAGE HALF MARATHON – by Sig Constable
On 16 July 2011 the Sqn took part in the Swanage Half
Marathon, a testing course that starts at Swanage Bay and
runs through the very undulating Purbeck hills.
Bright eyed and bushy tailed everyone was up early to collect
their race numbers and get some much needed breakfast
before tackling the notoriously hilly 13.1 miles.
This year the whole of the Sqn took part in the race including
SHQ Maj Solomons, Capt McGrane and SSgt Turner. We were
running for “Heroes Haven Swanage”, a new charity that was
formed in March 2010 whose aim is to provide a specially
adapted log cabin for the use of all disabled service personnel
injured on tour and their families.
A swarm of blue Sqn t-shirts invaded the start line all raring to
go. At 0930 the horn went off, most of 3 Sqn bolted forward,
unaware of the challenging course ahead. Several miles in
and with many calf burning hills already covered, the Sqn
really showed their physical endurance and mental strength
to tackle the long and arduous course. Many team members
took this challenge very seriously and Sig Lee was the first
member of the Sqn to finish with a very respectable time of 1
hr 29 mins.
PNCO CLM 11/003
PNCO CLM 11/003 was the last course before summer leave
for both the students and instructors. The enthusiasm and
drive was prominent from the start with all students
potentially leaving Blandford before the summer period.
Some students stood out from the start, namely Sigs Witts
and Baxter who were strong in every aspect. The course as a
whole was strong with every student completing it. This is
largely down to the syndicate training they do throughout the
working week within their Sqns which has had a positive
impact on the troops attending.
After this course it was a busy period for the instructors to do
courses they needed. Cpl Hickman was on his AASAA course
to gain his Method Of Instruction (MOI). Cpl Bhesh was
loaded on his Class 1 and then sent on his AABTAC in
preparation for his move into the BCCS team. Sgt
Fitzsimmons completed his SCLM, before departing on his
ASLS (mandatory for all Phase 1 and 2 instructors). Sgt
Dambar then went across to help with the ETT live firing
exercise, Ex CULLEN ENDEAVOUR.
Cpl Howard organised Ex SMALL SOLDIERS with the help Cpl
Harris, Cpl Rork and LCpl Hall. This Ex was designed for the
children of Downlands School based on a “look at life”
experience of their serving parents. The ex comprised of
numerous activities over 2 days and was aimed at children
aged 8 – 10.
The activities were an obstacle course, weapons lesson, cam
and concealment, grenade throwing (water bombs), drill and
equipment lesson. Both the pupils and teachers of
Downlands School fully participated in all activities and
thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
3 (Harrogate) Sqn ready to go!
4 (MILITARY TRAINING) SQUADRON
4 SQUADRON SQMS DEPARTMENT NEWS
OC
SSM
The Sqn would like to welcome Miss Clare McKenzie and Cpl
‘Bart’ Simpson to the SQMS department from Bovington and
16 Sig Regt respectfully. The department is in the fortunate
position of being up to full manpower and is taking full
advantage of this during the busy period of getting the
quarterly inspections completed. The SQMS, SSgt (PM) Jimmy
Scott, who double hats as the Corps Pipe Major, recently took
5 of the Corps pipers out to Denmark with the Corps Band.
This was in support of the annual Ringrider Festival in the
town of Sonderborg and is supported each year by a British
Military Band.
Maj D Ashton
WO2 (SSM) Butler
POTENTIAL NON-COMMISIONED OFFICER CLM (PNCO)
– by Cpl Howard
PNCO is a mandatory course for all Signallers selected for
promotion to LCpl. This course develops both command and
leadership skills of individuals, with all those attending being
assessed in various roles as a 2 I/C. It has been all change
within the PNCO Trg Team, with the Departure of SSgt
Corcoran and Sgt ‘The Admin’ Cuthbert. SSgt Watson took
over as the SSI PNCO with an internal move from SCTT, Sgt
Fitzsimmons took over SI arriving from 216 (PARA) Sig Sqn.
20
The 20 hour bus ride from Blandford was emotional, but
worth it. The programme was a busy one for the 6 days the
pipers were there. There were performances every day
starting from 0800hrs and going on until 2300hrs on some
days. The weather was not the best with heavy rain and
thunderstorms on the first couple of days, but this soon made
way for sunshine and high temperatures, neither of which are
good for pipers and bagpipes! The pipers returned back to
Blandford with reddened faces from the sun, sore feet from
the street marches and lighter wallets from the Danish beer
prices! The tour however, was a resounding success with the
music produced being received very well by the locals.
The Corps Pipes and Drums perform worldwide year in year
out and offers fantastic opportunities for personnel
interested in piping and highland drumming. Membership is
open to all serving Officers and Soldiers, Regular and TA,
irrespective of experience. Interested personnel should
contact the Pipe Major on 94371 2986.
EXERCISE TRAINING TROOP
OC
SSgt
2Lt R Simpson
SSgt Tirtha
NEWS FROM ETT – by Cpl Chris Nichol
At long last, a gap in the calendar for both Soldier Training
and Command Training meant that the Tp as a whole could
deploy, once again, but this time on adventure training!
The venue was not unsurprisingly Okehampton, the venue of
last year’s adventures which was a welcome relief for Cpl
‘Webby’ Webster as the Admin board needed little alteration
from last year’s jaunt. The sun shone brightly as the troops
assembled on a warm Monday morning in largely sensible
regalia and even LCpl ‘Squeak’ White had somewhat sensible
attire, as opposed to his norm of Gothic uniform. The journey
from Blandford to Okehampton was mainly uneventful and
the MT would have been thrilled with the driving ability of Cpl
‘Miss Daisy’ Beal, whose attempts to slow the convoy to a
crawl were blighted by the cheers of encouragement from
certain passengers when 2 hours into the journey the first
overtaking manoeuvre was carried out.
The usual standard of accommodation was met with the usual
disgruntled groans and had the Admin NCO, Cpl Webster, not
told the troops of the “Premier Inn” style rooms available, it
may have been accepted a whole lot better. Nonetheless, the
week had begun well and all were looking forward to the
activities.
Premier Inn of Okehampton it was evident to the walkers that
the mountain bikers had indeed had somewhat of an
adventurous day. Cuts, scrapes, bruises and sunburn amongst
the injuries but not on the silky smooth legs of Team Leader,
Cpl ‘Lance Armstrong’ Philpotts. The walkers knew that the
next day could be an adventure indeed.
As it happened nothing too serious in the way of injuries
occurred on the reversal of activities. Cyclists with aching
limbs became walkers with the odd blister and walkers
became cyclists with aching limbs. It was all leading up to
what was seen as the main event of the week, the visit of the
Sqn OC, Maj Ashton, the new SSM, WO2 Butler, new Tp Sgt,
Sgt John Gallon and one of the Regts successful Cpls on the
recent promotion board, Cpl Tony Richard. The adventurous
trainers were also graced by the presence of Cpl ‘Harry’
Harrison and LCpl Rob Gains. The guest of honour though
was ETT OC 2Lt ‘Homer’ Simpson.
The evening gave the Sqn an opportunity to say thank you to
2Lt Simpson for all his effort and hard work and wish him well
as he ventures on to pastures new at 7 Sig Regt. Despite his
best efforts to prove southerners and officers are not as
strong as their northern counterparts, having lasted less than
2 minutes on a Rugby League pitch, 2Lt Simpson did prove
that he had a strong character, if not a strong shoulder and he
will be a tough act to follow!
Unfortunately, the guests departed early on Thursday
morning and so could not partake in a “friendly” paintballing
shootout. The air was yellow with paintballs, red with smoke
and blue with foul language as paintballs struck some very
delicate parts. The action was hot and such is the fierceness
of rivalry and competition at times within ETT, so was the
atmosphere. LCpl Dave Wood is sure not to forget Cpl Simon
Tragner after a well fought battle became a little heated. All
is well that ends well though and after a brief respite, hands
had been shaken and the next (paintball) battle ensued.
All in all, a memorable week for those members of ETT who
were fortunate to get away for a well deserved break, no
thanks at least to Cpls Philpotts, Lowrie and Webster. A big
thanks from the Tp to all 3 who made the week possible.
Hopefully next year both the Sqn and Tp OC will be able to
make it the whole week, especially the paintballing…..
Tuesday and Wednesday saw us split into 2 groups, walkers
and mountain bikers. The walkers were led by an enthusiastic
Cpl Steve ‘future Corps Yeoman’ Lowrie and the bikers by Cpl
Philpotts. The walkers set off at a brisk yet enjoyable and
manageable pace up the first objective, Yes Tor, a gentle
climb of some 603 metres. Some fantastic views of the
surrounding countryside were on offer as was the view of
some very grim faced mountain bikers, pushing bikes up hill!
The walkers were afforded the luxury of admiring the
determination of the bikers until they reached the summit at
which point they quickly continued on their journey.
On the descent, from the back of the group could be heard
the complaints of one soggy footed LCpl Dave ‘walking boots
not required’ Wood. As good as the weather was, the marshy
land was still a little too damp for comfort as LCpl Wood
waded on. At the end of a 10 mile walk, a jar of liquid
refreshments was enjoyed by all in a local establishment. The
type that we could all identify on an OS map as PH.
Complaints of sore feet and aching limbs were soon forgotten
as the bus came to pick the walkers up and spared them a 10
mile walk back to camp. On returning to the not so quite
What a view!
REGIMENTAL GURKHA COMMUNITY NEWS
CI 1 Sqn (Senior Gurkha Officer) Capt S Gurung
Trg WO 1 Sqn (SSM (Gurkha)) WO2 (SSM) Binod Gurung
BLANDFORD BRIDGES RUN 26 JUNE 2011
- by Sgt Indrabahadur Thapa
The 7th Blandford Bridges Run, hosted by Wimborne AC Road
Runners and Dorset Doddlers, took place on Sun 26 Jun 11 to
21
support a local charity called ‘Blandford Parish Church
Restoration Fund’. A total of 241 individual runners
successfully completed the 10 kilometres long multi-terrain
course involving both roads and tracks under a hot weather.
The race alone managed to raise more than £1, 000.
To strengthen our relationship with the local communities,
and more importantly, encourage the young soldiers to
develop their personal fitness, 5 soldiers from the Regt,
namely Sgt Indra, Cpl Kumar, Cpl Sujyoki, Cpl Jayaram and
LCpl Subash, participated and completed the whole course in
45 minutes.
After the London Marathon, which was successfully
completed by the current Senior Gurkha Officer and Sgt Indra,
and Blackmore Vale ½ Marathon, Blandford Bridges Run was
the third competitive event participated by members from
the small Gurkha Community in Blandford Camp. Some
members are currently preparing to take part on the
Sturminster ½ Marathon to be held on 7 August this year.
My experience of undergoing the Up-grader course has
certainly made me more confident, educated, competent and
reliable in terms of trade knowledge as well as military
robustness. Being the Top Student, I was awarded the ‘EADS
Globe’ and ‘Royal Signals Institute’s Silver Medal of Excellence
(Gold is reserved for Top Student on the Foreman of Signals
course). Now, I look forward to utilize and share the
knowledge and experience that I have amassed during my
stay in Blandford Camp at my new unit, 22 Sig Regt, at
Stafford.
Finally, I am proud to be the first soldier from QG Signals to
receive the bespoke award. Without a doubt, this would not
have been possible without the fantastic support from both
the instructors and Tp Staff, and I take this opportunity to
wholeheartedly thank them. More importantly, the current
Senior Gurkha Officer and his team has been a strong pillar of
support to me, and it is due to their hard work that the
Blandford-based Gurkha Community and Block are
undoubtedly a far better place than it used to be.
To sum up, I am proud to be a soldier of QG Signals and the
Bde of Gurkhas, and with this coveted award under my belt, I
strive to keep the Regt and Bde’s name in the limelight.
Ex SKI TANK KHUKURI – by LCpl Suraj
With great excitement we checked the block notice board
and found that a visit to the Tank Museum followed by the
guided indoor skiing lesson was planned for Saturday 2 July
2011 by LCpl Surajkumar Tamrakar, 1 (Ouston) Sqn.
We now know exactly where Blandford School is!
HOW I BECAME THE FIRST QGS SOLDIER TO RECEIVE EADS
GLOBE AWARD - by Cpl Khemchandra Gurung
On 16 June 2011, the CEUR
10/005 course members
assembled at the Princess
Mary’s Hall in Blandford
Camp. As it was the last day
of the trade training with 11
(RSS) Sig Regt, they were
eagerly waiting for the
announcement of the
coveted ‘Top Student’
award. They were
accompanied by the civilian
lecturers and military staffs
who had been their
educational and military
mentors throughout the
course.
I was sat on the front row
feeling excited to have
finally and successfully
completed the course.
Subsequently, OC 3
(Harrogate) Sqn started to
congratulate the students
for their superb
Cpl Khemchandra with the
achievements. On his final
coveted ‘EADS Globe
address to the students, he
highlighted the importance of the knowledge that was
bestowed during the 44 week long course. Finally, at the end
of the speech, he announced the name of the winner for the
Top Student award, which happened to me. Everyone was
surprised when he also mentioned that I was the first ever QG
Signals soldier to receive the ‘EADS Globe’ award.
22
Named Ex SKI TANK KHUKURI, the team building event was
designed for interested GURKHA permanent staffs and
soldiers under training, to provide opportunity for an hour
long guided skiing lesson at the Dorset Snow Sport Centre,
followed by a visit to the Tank Museum in Bovington Camp.
Skiing being an exotic sport to most of the GURKHAS due to
our location and living standards back in Nepal, such
opportunity was truly not to be missed therefore it only took
us a few seconds to throw our names into the hat. We started
the day with the visit to the Tank Museum.
As we entered the museum, we were amazed by the lively
trenches and amazing wax models of the trench soldiers. This
experience took us back into the First World War during
which the trenches were life savers for soldiers fighting on
the frontline. After taking few photographs, we proceeded
into the ‘Tank Land’, where we were greeted by the historic
sight of the ‘Mark I’; the first tank ever to be deployed in
offensive role. Mark I was developed by the British
Army during the First World War to be used in action on 15
September 1916 to overcome the trenches in the Western
Front. The museum offered ample information about the
background on how the tanks came into its existence.
The formidable armour of the magnificent ‘Challenger II’ on
display caught my imagination of having such massive and
formidable tanks to support us when we deploy on
operations in future. The other element I noticed was the
engine power for ancient tanks were relatively low compared
to the modern ones; nevertheless they were “The Beast” of
their time. Thus, my confidence in armoured support grew
stronger. Sadly, we also came to know that due to the recent
Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR)
announcement, the number of armoured tanks in the British
Army has reduced to less than those on show at the Tank
Museum.
Two hours later, we hopped on the minibus and headed
towards the Dorset Snow Sport Centre for the eagerly
awaited skiing lesson. Upon arrival, we were issued the skiing
boots and equipments.
(Friday) per week. As soldiers were very busy with their trade
training during working hours and ESOL classes in the
evenings, it proved very difficult for the trainers to oversee
build-up training over the weekdays, leaving them no option
other than to use weekends.
Judgement Day: We set off at 0600 hours determined to
complete the course as fast as possible. The weather was
appalling and it rained solidly for 24 hours! The heavy rain did
not help at all; runners started to feel cold, muscles started to
cramp and before Check Point 6, six runners from the Regtl
teams had already dropped-out, leaving 11 (RSS) Sig Regt B
team alone to challenge the other strong teams.
LCpl Suraj and the young soldiers outside the main entrance to the
Tank Museum
Once fully kitted, the Skiing instructor directed us to the
learner slopes where we were taught the basics of skiing.
Honestly, at first we found it difficult to stand straight on our
feet in the slopes but we all stepped up to the challenge to
perform the first successful ‘Snowplough’.
After an hour of lessons, we were given thumbs up to be able
to go on to the main slopes, and carefully utilising the basics,
we climbed up the slopes. After our successful descent, we
passed the final assessment and hence concluded the event.
Inspired by this experience, I now look forward to gaining
useful adventure training qualifications at my first unit after
the completion of trade training.
Finally, it was without doubt an excellent day out and most
importantly, a wonderful experience for us. The visit was an
excellent opportunity for us to get a glimpse of what the Tank
Regiment’s commitments were including its brief history as
well. It was indeed a valuable and informative tour therefore
this type of activities should be done more frequently because
it gives us wider knowledge of the other Regts in the British
Army.
This was the second event the current SGO Blandford has
managed to plan in the past 5 months as part of our personal
and professional development. We would therefore like to
express our big thanks to him for devising such inspirational
events. Significantly massive thanks to LCpl Suraj for his
co-ordination.
11 (ROYAL SCHOOL OF SIGNALS) SIGNAL REGIMENT
TRAILWALKER (UK) 2011 TEAM - by LCpl Sanjoyhang Rai
As the check points were passed through one after another,
fitness, endurance, determination, team work and motivation
were clearly demonstrated by the individuals, not forgetting
the supporting crews’ tremendous contribution that
generated the much-needed will to succeed. Once we
crossed the Finish Point, the bagpipers’ music and loud
cheering made us very emotional. We completed the course
in 13hrs 14mins, and overjoyed by tears of happiness and
pride, we took a group photograph holding the Regitl flag
with pride, thereafter headed for the scrumptious curry.
Fundraising: Some runners including CO 11 (RSS) Sig Regt
stood at the main and rear gates of the camp on Friday 15 July
over the period 0700 – 0930 hours, raised £645.95 for the
GWT. Fantastic effort and many thanks!
Summary: This is a huge achievement, and the Regtl teams
must be very proud of themselves. Respective teams’
support crews deserve a round of applause for their
unforgettable support.
Big thank you to Sgt Chandra and A/Cpl Pramesh but special
recognition must go to Sgt Indra, who once again
volunteered to mentor the teams. Further to this, we would
also like to express our sincere thanks to our Senior Gurkha
Officer for many reasons.
Without his direction on build-up training, guardianship,
command decision and running with the teams on race day
from Check Point 4 till the Finish Point, the Regt would not
have 5 teams for the event and a complete team would not
have crossed the finishing line. Finally, on behalf of Senior
Gurkha Officer and the Gurkha Community, we would like to
offer our special thanks to CO 11 (RSS) Sig Regt for raising
£645.95 for the GWT.
Training: This year’s event
took place along the South
Downs Way and its
surrounding areas over the
period 16 – 17 July. Eighty out
of 89 Gurkha soldiers from
the Garrison supported the
event. More importantly,
following the COs direction,
the Regt fielded 5 teams,
which I firmly believe is the
first time the Regt has fielded
such a high number of teams.
Training for the Gurkha teams
began in February with 30
Phase 2 soldiers under the
management of Sgt Indra 2
Sqn, assisted by Sgt Chandra
3 Sqn and A/Cpl Pramesh
BGSU. Unlike previous years,
training for this year’s event
over the weekdays was
restricted to one session
Ex TRAILWALKER (UK) 2011 – 11 (RSS) Sig Regt Teams before the Big Start
23
NEWS FROM REGIMENTS
1st (UNITED KINGDOM) ARMOURED DIVISION
HEADQUARTERS AND SIGNAL REGIMENT
HERFORD
CO
RSM
Lt Col R Carter
WO1(RSM) K East
although Sig Lamb was more concerned that his Theatre
Entry Standard (TES) weapon looked “allie”. We have had
some time to relax with the Bismarck Challenge and a sports
afternoon bike ride to the Spa town of Bad Salzuflen.
Maj Duncan
WO2 (SSM) C Moore
The dept has also seen a turn around in personnel albeit
during a busy period. We have said farewell to WO2 (RQMS)
“Oz” Rowley, he moves on to assume the appointment of
SSM in Stafford. SSgt Andy Humble moves to Blandford, Sig
Ross also moves to Stafford and Sig Simms has moved down
the road to 200 Sig Sqn. We wish them and their families all
the best. Welcomes are extended to WO2 (RQMS) ‘Baz’
Anderson, SSgt ‘Dougie’ Douglas, Sgt ‘Nat’ Whelan and Sig
Shackelton.
HQ SQUADRON
OC
SSM
HQ Sqn continues at a rapid rate of knots in its preparation
and training for Op HERRICK 15, supporting the Regt on
exercises and organising sporting events, Adventure Training
and social functions.
As well as the CFX and CALFEX(M) range package there has
also been a considerable amount of work and organisation
going on in the background as the Sqn has begun to
restructure and form new departments in preparation for
deployment and rear party details. We welcome Lt Laura
Yaxely and her team who have moved from 201 as the newly
formed Ops Support Tp who will be responsible for
maintenance of all Sqn vehicles during the deployment. As
normal in such a large and diverse Sqn there are a lot of
personnel moving onto pastures new, including the Sqn 2IC
Capt Jim Alger who is moving to Aldershot as OC 661 Sig Tp
and the UWO Capt Jim Lyons who is now the RCMO at Elmpt
Station, all the best to you and your families in your new
appointments. We welcome their replacements 2IC Sqn Capt
Leigh Crossing and UWO Capt Adam Torrington, we hope you
and your families enjoy your time at Herford.
Despite the busy period sport is still high on the agenda. Capt
Jim Watt and his team organised the highly successful annual
Bismarck Challenge. Over 300 people entered the popular
and challenging event, which saw runners of all standards
competing in the race over a distance of 14 miles across the
hills and woods in the Herford and Bad Salzuflen area. The
competitive spirit was also high during the annual 20/20
cricket game between the WOs’ & Sgts’ Mess and the
Officers’ Mess. It was an extremely enjoyable day which
continued on in the evening as members and partners of the
Sgts’ Mess attended the Officers’ Mess for an excellent
function organised by the OC Maj Jim Duncan and his mess
committee.
QM(T) DEPT
QM(T)
Capt D Taylor
RQMS(T)WO2 (RQMS) B Anderson
Now coming to the end of MST the dept has seen the tempo
of life increase dramatically. Ex PREMIER KUSH 1 was
conducted at Javelin Barracks and was an opportunity to
deploy all G4 staff involved on Op HERRICK 15. For some of
the junior members this was there first ever exercise. Sig
“Larry” Lamb took every opportunity to drive every vehicle
possible; no detail was too tedious, although we had to put a
stop to him taking the MAN SV to the coffee shop. Sig Lamb
did need some additional driver training from Cpl Mick Harvey
after he managed to get it stuck in about 6 inches of damp
soil! Overall, Ex PREMIER KUSH was a success for the
department and enabled the team to bond. We have also
managed to drag ourselves away from end of months and
attend an excellent range package run by the Training Wing,
24
SOUTER FORCE PROTECTION TRANSPORT COMPANY (aka
MT TROOP) - by Sig Eltringham
OC
OPSWO
Capt S Vernon
SSgt L W Cote
Well after almost 3 months solid, hopefully 1 (UK) ADSR SFPTC
have broken the back of their deployment training, slightly
earlier than anyone would have expected; none the less the
bulk of it has been smashed.
The starting point for this non stop period was back in April
with a 5 week range package organised by Sgt (K40
Wingman) Naylor. Day 1 saw all members of SFPTC hit the
armoury and draw weapons ranging from Sig Sauers through
to UGL, then head for Sennelager ranges. Here the mammoth
task of getting guys from zero to hero could begin, at about
mach 6. At the end of the 5 week period with some ‘gentle’
education from the range team the mission was achieved.
After 5 weeks on the ranges and only 1 ½ weeks till the
dreaded CFX it was time for some in-house training at the
UDTA at Sennelager (Yet again). This took place on the first
week of June and saw SFPTC training in an urban
environment, similar to the one they would be experiencing in
Theatre. Every scenario was practiced, from routine vehicle
patrols to extracting a casualty under fire. The Company even
found time to set up a very realistic motorway Vixen accident
courtesy of Sig (I drive sideways down the A2) Wilby.
Finally on 9 June all of our preparation and training was about
to be put to the test in a 10 day exercise designed to test our
capability to deploy. In the CFX the soldiers displayed the
skills they had learnt over the past few months in stressful
and surprisingly realistic scenarios. Complex attacks, mass
casualties and interaction with interpreters all made the
soldiers feel like they where experiencing the real thing. One
of the sections was so tired that they managed to sleep
through an IDF attack, but we wont name and shame. At the
end of the exercise SFPTC where given there report and
where told that bar some very minor points they where fit to
deploy. After completing the CFX we got a nights rest then it
was straight on to the coach to the CALFEX. Again every
scenario the training staff could think up was tested and
perfected. It took LCpl ‘I don’t know how to undo a wheel
nut’ Blundell 45 minutes to change a wheel under fire.
However shooting and first aid skills dramatically improved
and the soldiers of SFPTC gained confidence in them. The
next thing to look forward to now was the 18 hour trip home.
It’s been a busy period for the MIGHTY SFPTC guys and girls
but overall they have improved in skills and drills 10 fold and
now have developed the natural swagger and confidence that
only SSgt (K40 Legend) Cote had at the beginning. BRING ON
THE TOUR.
FORMATION OF OPERATIONS SUPPORT TROOP
– by 2Lt ‘Yakkers’ Yaxley
With the pressure and training ramping up for the imminent
Op HERRICK 15 tour, the 74 strong Kestrel Tp of 201 Sig Sqn
disbanded. For those deploying to Afghanistan they merged
immediately into 212 Sqn. Those remaining behind formed a
new troop namely, Operations Support Troop headed up by
2Lt ‘Yakkers’ Yaxley under HQ Sqn. Ops Spt Tp have since
taken over the Regts green fleet and 2 Sqn’s worth of
Bowman FFR’s that are currently being brought up to speed
for several imperative inspections under the trusty control of
Cpl ‘Youngy’ Young. They are also the Regts reserves for Op
HERRICK and will undergo the necessary training in order to
have personnel on standby ready to deploy. The Tp have
plenty to keep them on their toes with a new SNCO, Sgt
‘Tight’ Watt, supporting exercises and lending manpower
with guard and postal duties. Although plenty to focus on,
the characters of the Tp are maintaining morale, such as Sig
‘Spandex’ Jones with his tight lycra shorts on PT. We would
also like to thank Sig ‘Snip’ Green for organising a paintball
afternoon and Tp nights out.
201 SIGNAL SQUADRON
OC
SSM
Maj B Higgs
WO2 (SSM) S Miners
201 have had a very busy period leading up to tour. The entire
Sqn has deployed to support the 20 Bde CFX on STANTA
training area and then role straight on to Salisbury plain for
the HERRICK 15 FTX. Read below for the full details. We have
one big goodbye to say to our 2IC Capt Amber Roach who is
trading 1 Armd Div for 1 Civ Div. We wish her the best of
British luck in her new job and hope she comes to visit us
again. We of course welcome her replacement Capt Richard
Tudhope. A further goodbye goes to those who have moved
to HQ Sqn as part of the Regtl restructuring for HERRICK 15.
It is not a real goodbye as they are still in Herford but we
might miss them a little bit.
20 BRIGADE CFX, STANTA -by LCpl Nicholson
April saw the start of 20 Bdes’ Confirmatory Field Exercise on
STANTA training area, aka Ex PASHTUN PANTHER. 1(UK)
ADSR was tasked with providing the comms network for the
12 Battle Groups that would be rotating through the exercise.
However the exercise started long before April for us as we
an initial 3 week pace ex and setup. This 15 week marathon of
an exercise was the Sqns main effort. Altogether we had to
provide comms between 5 different locations; FOB Oakwood
and Eastmere, BG HQs at Smokers Hole and OPTAG HQs at
Bodney and Wretham. We used the artillery tower on the
training area as the central point. This worked well until some
civvies decided to turn the power off (for routine
maintenance) causing the whole network to collapse. Due to
the terrain, we had to put a number of relays between the
locations and artillery tower which left some of our kit quite
vulnerable. Someone swiped one of our 9x9 tents, but for
some reason left the 30 cans of diesel and the 2 LFGs
untouched. This exercise was a really good opportunity for
everyone to learn about the OTES equipment and gain
valuable experience before the Regt deploys on Op HERRICK
15 in November. The comms equipment we used to link the
locations together is called SANDPIPER, a basic point to point,
direct line of sight bearer system, which uses the Radwin
radio. This was used as the bearer to emulate the OVERTASK
network used in Afghanistan. But in Afghanistan the
SANDPIPER bearer system is called KESTRAL even though it’s
the same.
Once all of the comms were in and working the pace slowed
slightly and everyone concentrated on maintaining the
detachments, making sure all of the users from the BGs had
the correct log ins and continuing the improve the
engineering of the links. The members of Bodney det also
acted as an FRT, so if any of the links went down on the
artillery tower, or any of the relays, it was their job to deploy
by any means necessary to fix the problem. On several
occasions this meant the lucky LCpl Nicholson, Sig Evans and
LCpl Marshall got a ride in a Puma helicopter into the FOB
locations. The slow pace did allow us a little bit of time of
now and again with which to explore the local area. The all
you can eat Chinese Buffet Restaurant being a highlight,
Tesco was also pretty good in the way they are when on
exercise.
Straight after ENDEX was called we spent 3 days collapsing all
the kit and moving to Westdown camp on Salisbury plain to
start the 20 Bde FTX for more of the same. Read the next
addition of The Wire for the next instalment of the great pre
tour build up.
211 SIGNAL SQUADRON
OC
SSM
Maj W A Walker
WO2 (SSM) Tom ‘Rock-a-Billy’ Woodall
Another busy 2 months for 211 Sig Sqn. With the up coming
tour, life is getting busier and the Div HQ still needs our
training support. We have had to donate troop commanders
to Ex PASHTUN PANTHER to aid 201 Sig Sqn support to the
HERRICK 15 CFX and deploy on 2 of our own exercise’s,
PASHTUN HORIZON 2 and 3. We still had some time for a bit
of sport and a little bit of fun with a Sqn bbq at the British
Legion hear in Herford, a big thank you to Cpl Sim and Cpl
Haigh for organising such a splendid event. We are all now
looking forward to recharging our batteries over summer
leave before our main exercise of the year in September.
We had the sad event of saying goodbye to Capt Nelson
Reynolds who has now moved to 216 Sig Sqn. Hopefully his
impeccable English and spelling will not deteriorate while he
is there. Capt Cyrus Karumba has arrived to replace him.
EXERCISE PASHTUN HORIZON 6/6 – by Sig Waterfall
The mighty 211 Sig Sqn embarked for one last time for another
2 week instalment of the PASHTUN HORIZON series. This
exercise is conducted in the CATT (Combat Advanced Training
Theatre) in Warminster. It is designed to exercise the Bde HQ
that is deploying to Afghanistan. Each HQ gets 3 PASHTUN
HORIZON events, each being harder than the last. Our first 3
Sgt Jones and team washing down the flooring on
Ex PASHTUN HORIZON
25
exercises had trained 3 Cdo Bde, our final 3 was for 20 Armd
Bde. Having already completed 5 already we were determined
to make our final one the best yet.
211 would be providing real life support for the troops. This
consisted of providing a guard force, general duties and
keeping the accommodation in order. Most importantly we
run the tuck shop that provided both the exercising brigade
and the 1 Div Staff working in EXCON with cans of fizzy pop,
crisps, chocolate bars and other delicious treats to maintain
their morale.
During this third and final exercise there was a VIP day.
Important Generals and other high ranking people including
the CGS and CinC LF were destined to visited the CATT. As
you can imagine many of the senior staff flew away with their
flapping to make sure everything was in tip top order. At
this point the mighty 211 issued out the parachutes and let
the Div staff float back to earth. With some 6ft GS tables,
MDF boards, ‘allie’ photos, some Army issue bed sheets
and a complete cutlery set borrowed from the Sgt’s Mess in
Blandford we converted the dingy CATT building into a VIP
suite that would make the Savoy Hotel look shabby.
What’s more, the one
and only SSgt ‘master
chef’ Cooper prepared
the best buffet spread
you have seen and 2Lt
‘dangerous’ Dave Wallis
individually arranged every
biscuit and coffee mug
to achieve perfection in
the presentation. If you
thought it could not get
any better, CGS and his
chums were treated to a
reception from the A-team
of the Guard world. Sig
‘drill sgt’ Miller, Sig ‘the
SSM Woodall personally inspecting
Frenchman’ Bailey and
the CGS silver spoon for cleanliness Cpl ‘ice cold’ Stanton
opened the gate with more style than you thought possible,
Sig Miller being awarded a GOC’s coin for his work. The whole
Sqn later received a hand written letter of thanks from GOC 1
Div for all our hard work.
forget Cpl ‘not a master chef’ Bilsby cancelling dinner in the
cook house in order to have a bbq on the coldest and wettest
night of any of the 6 exercises. Nor can we forget Sig Bradley
attempting to move a cow on using a broom. We hope 3 Div
and 16 Sigs enjoy the torch we have passed on to them.
OFFICERS V WARRANT OFFICERS AND SERGEANTS MESS
- by SSgt ‘Superman’ Welch
On 13 July the Officers Mess hosted the Sgts and WOs for a
fun filled, alcohol fuelled evening of merriment. As is usual
for such events, before the festivities could begin sport had
to be played.
At around 12 o’clock the teams assembled to stake the pride
of their Mess on a twenty-20 cricket match. The officers,
confident of victory in the gentlemen’s sport were looking
forward to dealing out some hard cheese to the opposition
under the leadership of Capt Leigh Crossing. The WOs and
Sgts (led by the Provo Sgt Steve Pearce) were eager to beat
the silver spooned, boarding school graduates at there own
game.
Unfortunately 20 minutes before play was about to begin a
helicopter landed in the middle of the pitch. Staggered by
this unexpected arrival, time out was called while the
helicopter was moved to the far side of the field and the
defences were erected. A precaution of course; no one
would be immature enough to deliberately aim their shoots at
such a valuable military asset in these dark financial times,
honest.
The SNCOs won the toss and decided to bat first. Despite
some spirted bowling by the officers YofS ‘SJAR’ Tharby
scored a solid 23 runs undefeated. SSgt ‘Superman’ Welch
was their highest scorer with 34, only defeated by an
exceptional catch by Traffic Officer ‘Safe Hands’ Emsen. On
completion of the 20 overs the WOs and Sgt’s Mess had
scored a respectable 129 runs. And now it was the officers
turn to take to the crease.
It was a bad start for everyone involved. The officers lost
their first wicket after 3 balls and YofS Tharby simultaneously
reduced his SJAR grade to D- by bowling out the CO.
Unusually for English gentlemen abroad a batting collapse did
not follow and the officers fought back. It is important to
note that the WO and Sgts had overlooked a crucial
technicality. All 20 overs had to be bowled. If all your wickets
fell then you were allowed to recycle your batsmen. With this
in mind the officers mess wildly swung for every ball to win by
a full 1 run scoring 130 in total, the highest scorer being Capt
‘The Caveman’ Muller with 35 not out.
The CGS VIP suite on Ex PASHTUN HORIZON. Its amazing what
you can do with a few GS tables and some bed sheets
After a few more days of normal jogging and healthy sales
from the tuck shop it was time to tear down and go home.
With unexpectedly high morale we ripped down, washed
down and swept up the tentage, loaded the ISO containers
and headed back to Herford. The 5 hour delay on the ferry
did give us plenty of time to reflect on the last 6 exercises
worth of PASHTUN HORIZON. We will never forget Sig ‘sheep
dodger’ Poulter crashing a vehicle on every one! Nor will we
26
The WO and Sgt cricket team
After the match all class rivalry was forgotten as everyone
retired to the Officers Mess for some Pimms, a round the
world themed buffet and general team bonding. This Wire
Note could continue to describe the jollity but for the sake of
everyone’s modesty I shall stop here.
THE FEMALE REGIMENTAL ROUNDERS TEAM
-by Sig Pitts and LCpl Gough
After a small deal of dramas (POL and fuel cards) with the
transport, 1 ADSR, aka the Mighty Ducks, finally started their
journey to the inter-corps rounders competition. Before you
ask, yes it’s a real sport. After picking up Sig ‘hair bun’ Taylor
and LCpl ‘hit girl’ Gough near Nottingham, the Mighty Ducks
steamed towards Grantham under the excellent driving of the
handsome mascot, Sig ‘ladies man’ Pitts. As the only
available minibus driver in the Regt he became the only male
on the trip. For purposes of Equality and Diversities no
further reference will be made to this fact. After finally
reaching the sleepy camp, and parking quickly and effectively,
the Ducks rushed out to sample the rustic local cuisine; an
Indian curry! The next day the Ducks rose bright and early,
ready for war. Their first skirmish was against the combined
forces of 7 Sig Regt and 12 Mech Bde Sigl Sqn. Against such a
meek composite team, the Mighty Ducks scored an easy
victory. The Duck of the match was Sig Taylor. While our
handsome mascot Sig Pitts slunk away at the earliest
opportunity. Some say he was trying to avoid the
embarrassment of being associated with a girls team, others
say he was trying to avoid the hazardous driving of the other
all female teams. Without him the team battled to a second
victory against 14 Sigs in a tough match. The Duck of the
match was LCpl Gough, with a last minute match saving halfpoint.
heavily involved with running the Real Life Support for Ex
PASHTUN HORIZON 3. This time, not only were we manning
the gates to the CATT complex and ensuring the G4 aspect of
the exercise ran smoothly but we also provided the G6
helpdesk, which pushed our manpower (and at times, morale)
to its limits. Several members of the Tp have completed their
Bulldog Drivers course with thanks to Cpl Timmis and LCpl
Swann, our Sqn DMIs. Fingers crossed that no more curb
stones will be trashed around the usually picturesque city of
Herford. However, by the time this goes to print, we will have
successfully returned 8 vehicles from our armoured fleet back
to TFSU (G).
As summer leave is looming just over the horizon, everyone is
looking forward to a nice break before getting stuck into an
extremely busy schedule come September.
The Tp would like to welcome the follow into the fold: 2Lt
Cooper from his Tp Comds course, Sig Rattray from 102 Log
Bde HQ & Sig Sqn and Sigs Rennie and Rouse, both from
Blandford
Along with Hello’s, there are always Goodbye’s and we wish
the following members of the Tp all the best with their future
postings: Lt Painter, off to University for the next 3 years, Sig
Cartledge on an Inter-Sqn posting for Op HERRICK 15 and Sig
Dobbins off to 10 Sig Regt.
CORMORANT TROOP – by Cpl Zimmermann
Tp Comd
Tp SSgt
The ladies rounders team
2Lt E Roberts
Sgt A Chalk
It’s been a busy couple of months for Cormorant Troop with
the vast majority of deploying on the Ex PASHTUN HORIZON
series with time for little else in between! The Tp are now
looking forward to letting off steam at the Sqn Summer Party
followed by a well deserved 3 weeks leave to recharge the
batteries before it all starts again in September! Cormorant
Tp would like to say farewell to Sig Davis who moves to 3
DSR, and to Sig Atkins and Sig Hopkins who are now
embracing life as civilians. We welcome Sgt Rob ‘Cormorant
Ninja’ Jones, Sig ‘Granddad’ Lea, Sig Smith and Sig Sym, all
from 11 Sig Regt, as well as LCpl Tirrell who joins us from 14
Sig Regt. We also pass on our congratulations to Sig Eccles
on his recent marriage.
Tired after thoroughly thrashing 3 regiments, the Mighty
Ducks were humbled by the astoundingly lucky 11 Sigs, who
caught every single member out within minutes. The Ducks
won on moral grounds though, by which we mean the only
team to have parked inside a space in the car park! So the
ducks were able to smile and laugh at their misfortune! The
Duck of the match was 2Lt Roberts. The embattled ducks
rallied after their loss, and stepped up to smash 22 Sig Regt
out of the war. Unfortunately, it was easier said than done,
and after a close and exciting match, 22 Sigs scraped through
to win by a few, meagre points. The Duck of the match was
Cpl ‘feather weight’ Bilsby. With the Ducks relegated, they
watched on as 11 and 22 Sigs fought for first place, through an
epic extra time. With more good luck 11 Sigs pulled through
to win. The Mighty Ducks finish in a solid third place, not bad
for enthusiastic amateurs. To celebrate Sig Pitts took the
entire team for dinner at Nando’s. The old smoothy followed
this up with a cinema trip to see his favourite movie,
Bridesmaids. He even drove them all back to Herford.
With the up coming deployment on Op HERRICK 15 the Regt
has been very busy. To say Sp Tps hit the last 2 months
running would be a miss statement; our feet did not touch
the ground! We have completed the final 2 EX PASHTUN
HORIZON events supporting the 20 Armd Bde CPX. Our Tp
Comd also spent 2 ½ weeks on Ex PASHTUN PANTHER
supporting the HERRICK 15 CFX. 50% of the Tp have been on
career courses such as Cpl Thomson on his Pre-Class 1 course
and Sig Barron on his PET course. Fortunately 3 weeks of
summer leave is only a few days away. Just a Sqn Summer
party to go! Sp Tp has also had to say goodbye to Sig
‘lineman’ Gunn, a stalwart of the Tp over the past few years.
We wish him well and will feel lucky if we get a replacement
half as good.
BOWMAN TROOP – by Sgt Mettam
212 SIGNAL SQUADRON
OC
SSgt
OC
SSM
Lt Painter
SSgt Evans
Bowman Tp has been as busy as ever, with personnel dotted
about here, there and everywhere. Again the Tp has been
SUPPORT TROOP – by Sig Delpeache
Tp Comd
Tp SSgt
2Lt D Wallis
SSgt S Middleton
Maj Hutton
WO2(SSM) Cattle
It’s been one of those months were the Sqn garages have
been empty. The last 2 months have been the last opportunity
27
to train for Op HERRICK 15 and this is exactly what we have
done. Soldiers have deployed on Ex PASHTUN HORIZON,
PASHTUN DAWN and PASHTUN PANTHER as well as
completing the pace-x for Ex PREMIUR KUSH. We have also
completed several range packages and MATT’s camps.
On top of this individuals have been flying left right and centre
to complete all the courses required to enable us to support
the OVERTASK system and RLS element of our taskings on
tour. A few lucky people managed to get away on the Corp
sailing the rest of us are holding out for some summer leave!
EXERCISE BALTIC MERCURY 2011- by Sgt ‘pirate’ Harris
On 12 July the Regt deployed a team to take part in Ex BALTIC
MERCURY 2011 departing from ASTC, Kiel. The aim of the
exercise was to allow novice sailors the opportunity to gain
competent crewmen qualifications, practice those more
experienced, as well as to take part in race training around
the Danish Archipelago.
After an early start the crew of 5 and one yellow rubber duck
named Dave arrived at Kiel just before lunch and were
introduced to their skipper for the 10 day trip before settling
themselves on board. The afternoon was spent carrying out
the mandatory safety training, provisioning of the boat (the
Good Yacht Petrel), and the issue of essential equipment such
as life jackets and the really nice deck shoes; followed in the
evening by the obligatory meet and greet.
The 13th saw the sail training begin in earnest. The crew of
Petrel departed Kiel straight into the teeth of a force 8 (40+
Knot wind speed) gale, with occasional gusts of force 9. With
the weather being so atrocious the crew succumbed to a nice
welcoming bout of sea sickness with only the skipper, Sig
Harry Evans, and rubber duck Dave un-affected. Most of the
crew couldn’t wait to get into port that night with Sig Tash
‘the ships cat’ Alonby only waking from her slumber when we
finally docked.
The next couple of days saw a lot more sail and rope handling
work done in much calmer weather before the transit up to
Horsens. As is usual the Horsens Yacht Club hosted the whole
Regatta in magnificent style and thanks must go to 7 Sig Regt
for the pre-racing BBQ. The 17th saw racing begin with a
series of round the cans races in which the 1 ADSR team
would emerge victorious winning 3 out of the 5 races, with
worry over Spinnaker drills a thing of the past.
Racing on the 18th was a very tight affair until a man
overboard saw the fleet split. Lying third at the time of the
incident, the skipper of our boat on hearing the mayday took
the only correct action, heave to and assist only for the 1st
and 2nd place boats to carry on. Finally finishing in third place
our crew was easy to motivate when the Long Haul Passage
started.
The 19th saw us spending an extra day in Ega due to the
weather conditions (Force 9 winds). It was decided that it
would be of more benefit if the novice sailors completed their
competent crew syllabus. A slower day going through rope
knots, followed by dinghy drills finished by a dinghy race and
a thorough soaking was the order of the day.
A 0600 race start the following day saw the fleet departed
Ega and begin the long haul race. With approx 80 nautical
miles to cover, we all knew that it would be a long day. Good
distance was covered until the Great Bridge finally came into
sight and the wind started to die. We were first under the
bridge after approx 12 hrs covering about 10 miles. Not the
most adrenalin filled period of time, Lt Eric(a) ‘the hairy
viking’ Roberts’s bangers and mash kept moral up and when
the race finished we found ourselves 3 miles ahead of the
fleet and the only crew to make it under the bridge.
The Skipper of the good yacht Petrel finally relinquished
control on the last day of racing and we all set about making
sure that we proved our worth. A very tight race ensued with
a mistake from one of the Corps Bosuns allowing us to win by
about a boat and half’s length. Not too shabby after 40 miles
of racing.
On the morning of the 22nd we handed over the boat. With
our much used oil skins handed in we found some boxes for
the trophies and made our way back to Herford very satisfied.
The terrors of the gale reduced to stories and wrapped in the
warmth of victory we looked forward to the 2012 Sail Training
Week.
2nd SIGNAL REGIMENT
YORK
2 SIGNAL REGIMENT WINS ARMY SHOOTING
CHAMPIONSHIPS – by Lt Greener
2 Sig Regt have returned overall winners at the Army
Operational Shooting Competition (AOSC) following a very
impressive performance. Prior to the competition itself there
was an intensive practice session under Sgt Dev Gurung,
which started in Jun 11. From there, the AOSC was split into 2
main phases, with the first phase being the individual shoot,
followed by the second phase team shoot. Due to the
amount of new firers, the majority of the practice time was
spent was spent looking at the first phase of the competition.
The team were very fortunate to have a good mixture of
weather, which enabled the new firers to find out their
respective points of aim in all conditions. It was from these
practice sessions that Team Captain, Sgt Dev Gurung, along
with Lt Greener could start to select the final eight firers who
would compete in the competition. The PAM was rather
ambiguous as to the required team competition, however
after several meetings with the SO2 Operational Shooting, the
composition was decided. However, both Lt Greener and Sgt
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Dev could have chosen anyone from the squad as the
standard across the board had been excellent.
The night before the competition the final team was
announced. Five new firers were selected, along with a
further 3 already in the Army One Hundred (top 100 shots
across the Service). Expectations were high for good results
from all individuals.
The first shoot was one favoured by all team members,
however we did not get off to the best start, with everyone
shooting slightly below their average. The same happened in
the second shoot, however after this the team settled and
very good scores started to materialise. After 2 days the
individual matches were over. All team members had done
extremely well and morale continued to rise.
The end of the individual matches signalled the start of the
team events. These shoots called for the 8 man section to
engage targets across the range. All the matches had a
definite Op HERRICK focus, whether it was from
“casevac’ing” dummies to completing a mile and a half run in
full kit before going through the practice. It was in this area
that the team excelled. The team did so well that with one
match remaining, they had a small lead before the final day.
The final shoot went well and we collected second place.
However more importantly this second place was all the team
needed to be named winners of the AOSC 2011. At the award
ceremony held in Bisley the team collected 18 trophies. A
fantastic result, especially for a Signal Regiment, where
ordinarily less time is spent on the ranges than our Infantry
counterparts. Individually the team also did exceptionally well, bringing
home plenty of personal silverware. Lt Rich Greener, Sgt Dev
Gurung, Cpl Durga Gurung and Sig Bijay Gurung all picked up
individual prizes for marksmanship skills and all members of
the 8 man team made it into the Army 100. A truly fantastic
achievement!
2 SIGNAL REGIMENT’S SUCCESSFUL FOOTBALL SEASON
– by LCpl Cameron
Going into the 2010-2011 season 2 Sig Regt’s football team had
a lot to live up to following the successes of the previous year
where the team took home the Signaller and 2 Division Cup,
along with reaching the semi final of the Army Cup. The team
had a challenge from the start, with many of the key players
deployed on Op HERRICK 13 at the start of the season. This
meant that the players left in the Regt’s Rear Party had to
fight hard to keep the team alive in the various competitions
they were entered into. Unfortunately the team was knocked
out of the Army Cup weeks before the return of the full
squad. This news reached Afghanistan and although the team
was disappointed it gave the required push to motivate the
squad for the remaining competitions. On the Regt’s return
from Op HERRICK 13, the team was re-invigorated with fresh
players and went onto thrash all opposition. The team
remained unbeaten for the rest of the season winning both
the Signaller and 2 Div Cup competitions.
The Signaller Cup final was held in Blandford and kicked off
after this years Morrison Cup event. The opposition was a
strong team from 7 Sig Regt who had given a good
performance throughout the season. However, they were no
match for the mighty 2 Sig Regt who won the final with an
impressive 8 – 1 victory. The success was not without sacrifice
and unfortunately LCpl Adam Blackburn had to be
transported to hospital with a dislocated shoulder.
The success in the 2 Divi Cup came a week later in the final
game of the season. The opposing team, 9 AAC, had been the
runners up in the Army Cup and were clearly a talented team
having been knocked out of the competition on penalties.
Tensions were high going into the game as this was 2 Sig
Regt’s chance to prove they were one of the best teams in
the Army. The match was relatively even in the opening 30
minutes before 2 Sig Regt started to find there feet.
However, despite continued pressure 2 Sig Regt couldn’t find
a breakthrough until the 90th minute when they managed to
win a corner. LCpl ‘Shrek’ Mullin took a cheeky short corner
which when crossed found the head of Sig ‘Turk’ Harvey who
made no mistake in finding the back of the net on the final
whistle, leaving 2 Sig Regt Div Cup Champions!
Despite a slow start, 2 Sig Regt have had a very successful
season and look forward to hopefully picking up the Army
Cup Trophy next season. The team this year was managed
and coached by Capt Bruce Thornton and SSgt John
Stephenson who as player/mangers brought some valuable
experience to the team both on and off the pitch. The
success of the team was not only down to the players and
management but the support from the Regt in ensuring
players could get away for both training and games.
The Skipper LCpl Kieron Clayton picking up the Div Cup Trophy
SCARBOROUGH – ARMED FORCES DAY, JUNE 2011
– by Sig Milady
It was a fine day on Saturday 25 June for Armed Forces Day
2011. 2 Sig Regt were to parade in Scarborough with the
veterans from all different cap badges in front of a crowd of
15,000 people. On arrival at Scarborough sea front, the sun
was beaming down on us, all dressed in MTP, the weather
was a sharp reminder of what we experienced during our
early tour stages, only the scenery was better! Thousands
flocked to the beach to catch England’s beautiful rays whilst
watching us on parade. It was definitely the perfect day for
the parade.
Thirty members of 219 Sig Sqn came under the command of
WO2 (SSM) Stansfield for the march along the seafront –
obviously the SSM had his best drill voice on! Throughout the
day members of the public showed their appreciation towards
the British Army; we were all overwhelmed by the support we
received and local businesses even offered us free fish and
chips along with a dessert of ice cream…30 squaddies
weren’t going to let that go to waste! On finishing the
parade, we all felt a sense of pride due to the vast turn out in
Scarborough and the warm welcome we received. It was
then back to York to enjoy the rest of the weekend and a well
deserved beer to rehydrate!
OFFICERS’ MESS SUMMER BALL – by Capt Bell
Well the summer ball has come and gone again and this year
in York we went with an extremely colourful and creative
(especially for some) theme of Bollywood. Capt Pete Hatton
MBE and Capt Bruce Thornton took a different take on the
‘Indian’ nature of the theme and showed up as Red Indians
complete with feather hat attire! The costumes were great
and most people made a real effort with Maj Terry Crane
taking the prize champagne for best dressed (without a single
protest of collusion or corruption from the crowd… ); to be
fair he did look like some kind of Arabian Prince complete
with jewel in the middle of his turban! The marquee looked
great, complete with beautiful saris (thanks to the Ghurkha
The ‘Indian’ Chiefs L-R Capt Bruce Thornton and
Capt Pete Hatton
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wives) and terribly cheesy Bollywood posters forming the
surrounding décor. The evening began with pre-dinner drinks
outside in the sunshine, followed by a buffet meal complete
with some lovely wine picked from a wine tasting evening in
the mess. SSgt Kamal’s wife surprised everyone appearing on
the dance floor to perform a traditional Nepali dance which
took great courage and she drew great applause. The night
then really kicked off as the ‘Yorkelli’ Ghurkha band blasted
into action jamming some great tunes and getting everyone
up on the dance floor busting some shapes and crying out for
more after their hour long set. The DJ then carried on where
the band left off, and had everyone on the dance floor doing
all manners of crazy dances such as the ‘Time-Warp’ and
‘Macarena’.
At one point everyone was lined up behind each other sitting
on the dance floor like one enormous boat race. In between
mine sweeping wine off the tables Maj Alex Clixby was seen
performing some outrageous break dancing moves on the
dance floor…what was in that wine?! The party carried on
into the mess bar well after the DJ closed up shop and
reportedly the very walls in the mess were shaking from the
hardcore party raging there. Overall the general consensus
was that it was a great party and one not to be forgotten; a
huge thanks has to go to the Mess Committee for the
organisation and to the Mess Staff for helping the event to
run so smoothly.
WARRANT OFFICERS AND SERGEANTS MESS SUMMER BALL
– by SSgt Stephenson
As PMC of this year’s Summer Ball it was left to the
committee and myself to come up with something light and
refreshing, which would get everyone in the mood for
summer leave. We decided to bring back the 80’s, that’s the
1980’s and not the 1880’s something WO1 (RSM) ‘I would
walk 500 miles’ Lamont could not get his head around.
During the planning stage it was decided all good summer
balls need great entertainment, good food and plenty of
alcohol. The entertainment came in 3 parts, with Winnie Le
Freak (Drag Queen) opening the show with an hour long 80’s
sing song, alongside some rather crude dance moves, one of
which WO2 (SSM) Stansfield seemed to enjoy a little too
much! This was swiftly followed by a ‘Kick up the 80s’ tribute
band who after many costume changes finished with their
own rendition of Thriller in which Sgt ‘Freddie Kruger’
Hullican stole the show. The evening was then filled with the
sound of the 80s mixed by DJ Wizard and his crew who filled
the dance floor for the next 4 hours. Busting a few moves
were Sgt ‘Pamela Anderson’ Graham who was in need of a
bikini wax and Sgt ‘Chips’ Til who was in outstanding form.
The CO, Lt Col AR Knott MBE, looked the part as Adam Ant
and was seen strutting his stuff on the dance floor before
presenting the best costume awards to Sgt ‘Mario’ Milligan
who looked more like a bus conductor and Sgt ‘She-ra’ Keene
L-R Capt Om, Lt Greener and Capt Ambar show off their
costumes
30
for the best female
costume. Alongside
all of this, the food
came and went, as
did the beer. It
seemed one person
had had enough as
morning fell, when
Sgt Harrower got
down on one knee
and proposed to his
The RSM & RQ getting ready for a
girlfriend. The dance
costume change
floor fell silent as she
deliberated. After what seemed like an eternity she said….
YES which was awarded with a standing ovation from every
table, those who could still stand that is! As the night drew to
a close it was ended with a little dirty dancing before the
lights went down. Special thanks must go to all the
committee who worked tirelessly and made the evening one
to remember and also to all the staff who served throughout
and helped the night go smoothly.
AMPLEFORTH COLLEGE COMBINED CADET FORCE
CENTENARY CELEBRATION – by Cpl Pirie
Ampleforth College, North Yorkshire, was the setting for the
Combined Cadet Force Centenary Celebration 2011, which 2
Sig Regt were invited to attend in order to highlight the Role
of the Royal Signals within the British Army. LCpl McDonald,
LCpl Stephens, Sig Bowlby, and Cpl Pirie established a display
stand in the grounds of the college in the form of a Bowman
detachment. Around the detachment they placed numerous
boards layered with pictures from the Regt’s recent tour of
Afghanistan. Ampleforth College comprises of an Abbey and
Boarding School surrounded by several rugby pitches, indoor
and outdoor rifle ranges and cricket pitches. With its remote
location surrounded by plenty of training areas you can see
how it boasts a fine military heritage, with former pupils
including Colonel Sir David Stirling (founder of the SAS),
Brigadier Simon Frasier (founder of the Commandos), Major
General Sir Freddie De Guingand (COS to Field Marshall
Montgomery from 1942-44), Major Generals Sir Sebastian
Roberts and Jacko Page.
With the College surrounding the various stands like an
amphitheatre, it made for an ideal setting for the Cadet Force
exhibition. Other cap badges on show included 21 Engr Regt,
Infantry Training Centre Catterick, 11 Explosive Ordnance
Disposal, 1 BN Lancashire Regt and the local Army Recruiting
Team from Strensall. Luckily the team from 2 Sig Regt arrived
early to establish their display and were fortunate enough to
get some downtime before the celebrations began. This
enabled Cpl Pirie and Sig Bowlby the opportunity to watch
the other cap badges set up in the wind and rain. The TA
Medics provided the greatest amusement with their attempts
at putting up a tent and cam net resembling a team from
Dads Army!
The visiting crowd at the display was a mix of cadets, students
past and present, parents, teachers, and a number of VIPs.
During the day we had some good interaction with the public
who mainly enquired about our recent tour in Afghanistan,
with the odd handshake and messages of thanks for the work
we do. Amongst the crowd we were stunned by the fashion
trends; suede shoes, brown socks, pink cords and tweed
jackets. (Maybe there was a power cut and they got dressed
in the dark!) Unfortunately due to the weather a number of
displays were cancelled including the helicopter rides and
parachute displays. As the event came to an end, in good
Royal Signals fashion the tear down took minutes. Overall it
had been a fun and interesting day where I feel we made
more of the public aware of what 2 Sig Regt and the Royal
Signals offer.
3rd (UNITED KINGDOM) DIVISION
HEADQUARTERS AND SIGNAL REGIMENT
BULFORD
CO
RSM
Lt Col G Wilson
WO1 (RSM) P Jenkinson
The Regt has had another successful few months; primarily
the safe return of all those members of Sp Sqn, 202 Sig Sqn
and 258 Sig Sqn who had been deployed on Op HERRICK.
They had a very successful handover to 21 Sig Regt (AS) and
we wish them good luck on their tour. The remainder of the
Regt have fully reconstituted following Ex IRON TRIANGLE 11
in Germany and are now looking forward to Ex IRON
RESOLVE, Mercury 500 and the Lanyard Trophy competition
after summer leave.
206 SIG SQN
OC
SSM
Maj C Coleman
WO2 (SSM) A Bedward
With Ex IRON TRIANGLE 11 now a distant memory we have
had what have seemed a quiet few months. This has been a
prime opportunity for the Sqn to do some sport, AT and
courses although several have had their lives taken over by
Lanyard training. We have now bid a final farewell to WO2
(SSM) Witham and wish him and his family well for their
posting at 14 Sig Regt (EW). Similarly, we have also said
goodbye to SSgts Butler and Parkinson, posted to 11 Sig Regt
and 600 Sig Tp respectively. The last farewell was to the Sqn
Ops Offr, Capt Andy Bunting, who has left the Army for
pastures new.
CAMBRAI TROOP – by Sig Redwood
In mid July, Cambrai Tp had a “Troop day out” on behalf of
Cpl Lee Whetton, to commemorate his leaving the army after
23 years service. After much planning for an exciting trip to a
highly rated water sports center in Ringwood, we decided to
go to Nandos and Bowling in Tower Park, Poole.
We arrived at the holiday resort at the early time of 1000hrs,
some may say too early for a day of bowling booked for
1330hrs! However, this worked out perfectly as it allowed
enough time for the majority of the Tp to watch ‘Kung Fu
Panda 2’ whilst the remaining members went to the arcade to
spend half a month’s wage in the penny slots.
After a delicious trip to Nandos, we made our way to the
much anticipated Bowling Alley (the highlight of the day).
Different abilities and various talents started to emerge
throughout and rivalry promptly became evident after a prize
was offered; Sgt Dave Dunn eventually came out victorious.
This was unlucky for Cpl Craig Gardner who bowled a perfect
game straight after, swearing he didn’t change his score using
the computer and when asked how, he commented “You just
throw it straight”. The Bowling came to an end after a good
day and everyone made their way back to camp.
NORMANDY TP
FAMILIES’ DAY - by Cpl Hamilton
On Saturday 30 July Normandy Tp held a families’ day which
gave colleagues, friends and families a well deserved
opportunity to let their hair down and enjoy themselves. The
day also doubled up as a farewell to SSgt ‘Flo’ Watts who is
due to be posted on promotion to 251 Sig Sqn in Aldershot.
The day started well with the warm weather looking like it
was going to hold out. When everyone arrived there was a
chance for the family members to visit the Tp garages. Within
the garages there were various stands set up which included 2
comms detachments, regularly used exercise equipment, a
DVD promoting the Royal Signals and a photographic display
showing the Tp on Exercise, Adventure Training and
Operational Deployment.
Children enjoyed the experience trying on headsets,
attempting to lift the bergans and trialling our very own face
paint with some helpful advice from the serving personnel.
This gave the adults a chance to look around in more detail.
There was a bouncy castle set up for the children, who as the
day wore on seemed to increase in age.
A variety of games were also widely available to keep people
entertained such as giant jenga, twister and sumo wrestling.
Next up saw LCpl Ian Duggins and Sig Jack Davison run some
fun children’s races, which included space hoppers and prize
bags of haribo for the kids.
Drinks were flowing and it was time for some food; a
barbeque which was provided by one of our own chefs, Cpl
‘Gaz’ Butler, who offered some lovely food. After food we
moved onto the raffle, with the top prize being an Xbox 360
accompanied by 2 games which everyone was eager to win.
Sig Luke Baines was the lucky winner leaving the audience
sadly disappointed. We then presented SSgt Watts with his
leaving present and farewell card, who then gave a short
leaving speech under strict guidelines from his daughter to
keep it brief as she is not a fan of his public speaking.
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In summary the event proved to be a great success with
everyone thoroughly enjoying the event, in particular it was
truly pleasing to see the families be a part of the experience
and acted as a worthy send off for SSgt Watts who will be
greatly missed by the Tp.
evacuations, numerous blinds and returns, RTIs and
environmental issues. I also spent a week within EXCON
during the battlefield simulation phase, monitoring the
Bowman net, sending and receiving SITREPs, contact reports
and CASEVACs.
BATUS – by Sig Liggins
I also maintained the nets by erecting antennas and
occasionally fault finding.
In March of this year I was given the opportunity to go to
Canada with 228 Sig Sqn (12 Mech Bde), to help them prepare
for their upcoming tour at the beginning of next year. I was
excited about the good opportunity to widen my skills and
gain more experience.
The first exercise was cancelled due to the snow so I deployed
at the start of May to the British Army Training Unit Suffield
(BATUS). I took part in the 2 PRAIRIE THUNDER exercises,
consisting of 2 phases; firstly the live firing then a battlefield
simulation part. My main work consisted of range control for
the movement and control of 2 Battle Groups; casualty
Before returning to the UK I was given a chance to go on a
week of AT with a choice of horse riding in the mountains,
white water rafting, ice rock climbing or skydiving. I was
lucky enough to go skydiving which proved to be an amazing
week where I jumped solo from 4000 ft up. This was a great
chance to wind down and relax before returning to the UK.
If I ever deployed to Canada again I would hopefully get to
see more of Canada’s scenery and possibly the live shooting
phase from the Artillery’s firing lines. During my deployment I
had a great time and learnt a lot more about my job within a
deploying unit.
7th SIGNAL REGIMENT
ELMPT
EXERCISE JAVELIN SUN – by Sig Smith
Despite the hectic commitments members of Sp Sqn managed to escape and descended on Wertach, Bavaria for a multi
activity holiday. The activities were Kayaking, Kletterstieg,
Climbing and Trekking.
On arrival we dropped our kit into the rooms, signed out the
equipment we needed for the week, received a few “Do’s and
Don’ts” briefings and then found our way into the bar for a
pint and a game of cards. After the warning that the activities
would be quite arduous Sig ‘disco leg’ Wood left the briefing with only one thing in mind “Let the adventure drinking
begin”. This was music to SSgt ‘the punisher’ Stainforths ears.
After a rude awakening from the fire alarm the training
began. SSgt ‘Smoothie’ Smith took his group on Kletterstieg
which was new to the group. It was a humorous day with Sig
‘NUBS’ Cadwallader (NUBS = No Upper Body Strength) being
dragged up the mountain on a rope with SSgt Smith using the
unfortunate situation to earn himself a fresh beverage and
cake at the top.
Kletterstieg days were always eventful with the instructor
offering assistance at a cost. Luckily it is SJAR time and when
Capt Dougie Wilson couldn’t drag himself up any more, the
cost of the rope went up. It also had LCpl ‘permanent transmit’ Raikoso muted for a few hours. Maj ‘Taff’ Burdge didn’t
fancy the usual 3 points of contact therefore he adopted the
new improved 5 points of contact with hands, feet and the
new addition of the chin hooked over the rock.
Climbing was instructed by LCpl ‘Awkward’ Orchard who
pushed his groups to the limit then challenged them to a
climbing competition knowing that he was fresh as a daisy. At
times the climbing was more like a scene out Saturday night
fever with all the disco legs.
SSgt ‘Mac’ McDougall instructed the Kayaking and he had
his work cut out from the start. This was not because of the
group’s ability but which lake had the best summer views.
After trial and error he got it down to a tee with help from his
sidekick Sig ‘capsize’ Bailey who had a canny knack of ending
upside down at the first sight of women. On one river trip Sig
Chris Mee needed a cuddle from Sig Keating as he was so cold
the tears were beginning to flow. Cfn ‘Ice Cream’ Molyneux
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was on the river for all of 30 seconds before using his helmet
as an anchor on the river bottom whilst still attached to his
head. Sadly had to be removed from the water due to a nervous break down or was it a back, shoulder or a bad knee. I
can’t remember.
SSgt Stainforth was IC trekking or as it was named to the students ‘Pete Company’. After returning from one of the forced
marches Cpl ‘Dirty’ Dowes was heard asking “where did this
man come from, he is a machine”. After a week of over a 1000
meters of assent per day the groups where coming up with
any excuse not to be on ‘Pete company’. They ranged from
altitude sickness to man flu and sand in the proverbial.
As R&R we went to Austria for a white water rafting day. Sig
Michelle Russell had a eventful trip as the raft hit a wave she
got catapulted into the water, spending the next 15 minutes
swimming to catch up. Obviously the raft stopped so she
could catch up. LCpl ‘Colly’ Nalaugo decided that the raft was
not needed and was often seen floating down the river on his
back like big bear and took the instructors 5 km to convince
him that the raft was the best place.
An enjoyable experience was had by all.
OFFICERS, WARRANT OFFICER’S & SNCO’S v OTHER RANKS
T20 CRICKET MATCH 2011 – by Cpl Andy Bryant
7 Sig Regt held the annual T20 cricket match on 6 July 2011 between the Officers, Warrant Officers and Senior NCO’S v Other
Ranks. After last years win for the Senior’s the other ranks set
out for revenge.
After winning the toss the Seniors captain, WO1 (FofS)
Rodway, chose to bat first. The OR’s team came out of the
blocks quickest with LCpl ‘PC’ Collins taking the wickets of
Sgts Marlborough and Stonely in his second over. The batting
side managed to settle the game down after the OR team lost
there main attack seeing LCpl Collins having to leave the game
for ‘unforeseen’ circumstances. Sgt Butterfield topped the
score board with 27 runs and the first innings finished 124 for 9
after 20 over’s.
The OR’s felt so confident with the run chase they sent out the
team’s novice players, Sigs Webster and Robinson, to open
the batting and they managed a 3 over partnership before Sig
‘Robbo’ Robinson was bowled out by Sgt Worsnop. All confidence shifted dramatically by the end of the 10th over with
the OR’s on a measly 35 for 4. Then gear change came with
Sig Stannard who was the first player of the match to reach
the 30 run declare score, followed up by an impressive innings
from LCpl ‘Ginge’ Orchard (REME) hitting 33 runs.
The OR’s team amazingly, managed to bat out their 20 overs
but fell 24 runs short of the target finishing on 101 for 5. So
for the second year in a row the Officers, Warrant Officers and
Senior NCOs win the trophy. This years best batsman went
to LCpl Orchard with a score of 33 runs, best bowler when to
LCpl Orchard with figures of 14 runs for 3 wickets off 3 over’s.
Congratulations to Man of the Match LCpl Orchard.
Congratulations to the Officers, Warrant Officers & Senior
NCOs again and we look forward to next year when hopefully the CO, Lt Col Long, will make the grade for WO1 (FofS)
Rodway’s team.
NIJMEGEN MARCHES 2011 - by SSgt (YofS) Krikorian
100 miles in 4 days carrying a nominal amount of weight…..
how hard can it be?!
It all started late last year when I was asked to ‘recruit’ a
team of volunteers from across the Regt to enter this years’
Nijmegen Marches, an annual International Marching Event
staged in Holland that attracts over 40,000 marchers every
year from around the world (5000 of which are military).
After delivering an initial interest brief to the Regt in January a
few ‘volunteers’ (initially led by WO1 (RSM) Russ Heynes who
unfortunately had to later pull out due to a fast ball posting),
bravely stepped forward having been convinced by me that
the ‘marching’ aspect of the event was merely an excuse to
spend a week in Nijmegen during the height of summer with
all that it has to offer.
With a minimum of 11 members required to field a team, a
team began to take shape made up predominately from 229
(Berlin) Sig Sqn and a smattering from Sp Sqn, all of whom
had never taken part in this event previously. This is a distinctly different event to that of Lanyard or Cambrian Patrol,
much to the dismay of one SSgt Andy Dunn who was hoping
for something more ‘competitive’. Adding a soft feminine
touch to the testosterone filled team was Lt Abbie Roberts
and Sgt Kerry Hopkinson, a very welcome dynamic. Training
finally began in early April under the direction of Sig Lee Loach
with a threshold AFT. So far so good!
A weekly tab around the vast airfield of Javelin Barracks enabled the team to get some ‘time on their feet’. The distances
varied from a quick 12 miler to a more substantial 18-20 miles;
for some of the team this was a first having never tabbed
more than the standard AFT 8 miles before. Trial and error
with the boot/sock combination proved emotional, culminating in a general consensus that Army issued assault boots
and socks were not the order of the day! As it turned out
however, no boots fully protect you from the dreaded blister,
no matter how expensive.
In order to attend the marches all military personnel are
required to conduct a qualifier, a 2 day event where all teams
and individuals must complete 25 miles per day on consecutive
days. This was held in mid May in and around JHQ, Rheindahlen, so just a short trip down the A52. The qualifiers were
the first real taste of what lay in store (and the first time WO2
(FofS) Lou Cleary had made an appearance, preferring instead
to save his energy for the main events rather than burn himself out by training). As the team assembled at the start line
at a typically early 0500hrs we were reminded that it wasn’t a
race, however this did little to dispel the competitive edge and
we were soon off, reeling the teams in that had set off before
us. A mere 6hrs 45mins later the team had the crossed the finish line, satisfied that the first day and 25 miles of Rheindahlen
countryside had passed. Day 2, another early start, and the
general mood was not quite as upbeat (unless your name was
Sig Dean ‘GRS’ Smith that is. He has far too much energy for
one person!).
The toll of day one had manifested overnight with a number
of the team suffering badly blistered feet and reoccurrences
of previous injuries to the extent that 3 members had to retire
from the qualifier, embarrassingly me being one of them; injury, not blisters, being the reason I hasten to add. With a more
sensible approach being applied to the pace, the remainder
of the team were able to complete the second and final day
of the marches without further losses. Fortunately those that
didn’t complete the official qualifier we were able to conduct a
local qualifier on camp in early June.
The day of departure to Nijmegen quickly arrived and so we
loaded onto 2 minibuses and set off on the short drive into
Holland arriving at Heumensoord Camp, our home for the
next week, a little over an hour later. The temporary camp
houses around 6000 military personnel from around the world
with the British Military Contingent (BMC) being the largest at
around 850. The BMC was made up of teams from all 3 services, Army and Air Cadets, and numerous UOTC teams all adding
to the flavour. Once we’d settled into our ‘spacious’ 16 man
rooms Sig Ricky Robinson and Sig Adam Skelding led the way
in locating the much fabled International Beer Tent to help us
get into the spirit of things. A few Grolsch later we joined the
masses and ventured into the City Centre to experience the
full carnival atmosphere. A crazy night was followed by a few
sore heads the following morning. I would tell you about the
night but what happens at Nijmegen stays at Nijmegen! Needless to say, it was fairly eventful (mentioning no names…. Sgt
Leon Bancroft).
After a further 2 days of ‘acclimatisation’ the first day of
marching started with reveille at the ungodly hour of 0300hrs.
To make matters worse, the alarm call was a rather annoying
song entitled ‘Wake Up Call’, a mash of genres (heavy metal
and Steps), played throughout camp on the tannoy system.
After a filling continental breakfast the march began, as it
did on all marching days, with the BMC forming up in file,
in teams and marching out of Heumensoord with a military
band playing and a military commander taking the salute on
the dais. The first few kms of the route consisted entirely of
military teams but it wasn’t long before we streamed into the
thousands of civilians just as the sun rose.
With plenty of pit stops enroute and plenty of sights to take
in each day, the 8+ hours seemed to go by relatively quickly
but it was still with some relief when the sight of the large
boots and helmet welcomed us back onto Heumensoord at
the end of each day. On the fourth day the route finishes with
a walk up the Via Gladiola, into the heart of the city, where
the crowds make you feel as if you are back in 1945 on VE day.
Even LCpl Roshan-Kumar Gurung managed to enjoy it having
spent the entire 4 days in acute pain with achilles tendonitis.
On each of the 4 days a different area of the city and its
surrounding countryside were covered by the thousands
of marches cheered on and supported by thousands upon
thousands of local residents and visitors. Every 5th house
had full on sound system that any nightclub would be proud
of complete with a budding DJ cheering us all on or shouting
out ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie’ to our Australian OC Maj Marcaus
Muller who would enthusiastically reply with the obligatory
‘Oi, Oi, Oi’.
Children of all ages lined the streets either offering us sweets
and carrot sticks or attempting to increase their souvenir
collection. Even the local hospitals wheeled out their patients
33
onto the route to offer their support. The whole event has
to be experienced to be believed, the atmosphere is pure
electric. The hospitality and support shown by the people of
Nijmegen, the Ministry of Defence and sponsors alike set this
apart from other similar events. During the Four Day Marches,
the Nijmegen City Centre played host to almost one million
people.
100 miles in 4 days carrying a nominal amount of weight…..
how hard can it be?! Well, I can, with some certainty, say that
no, it isn’t a walk in the park and the pain on the balls of your
feet is akin to being beaten with a cricket bat. However, the
crowds, support, atmosphere and experience makes it more
than worth it.
EXERCISE MERLION DAGGER 2 - by LCpl Thomas
Ex MERLION DAGGER started with weapon cleaning on the
Monday morning. This gave the guys a chance to prepare the
weapons for the week ahead. Sig Powney obviously forgot to
do this as later on in the week he ended up firing his rifle with
the SUSAT hanging off! Apparently this was his excuse for
his less than perfect shooting. The rest of the day was spent
conducting essential pre-tour administration and last minute
kit checks followed by briefings for the following day.
Tuesday started at 0745 with the usual PT session. However
the SSM had planned a more relevant session to get us all
in the mood for war. It included a round robin of 4 stations
of various combat conditioning exercises. In no particular
order we had LCpl ‘Chezney’ Rodgers conducting upper body
wrestling drills, LCpl Tom Allen instructing grappling drills and
myself taking PSPO strikes . The last stand was a cheeky mini
circuit thrown in by LCpl ‘Chief’ Rana, which involved med ball
pushes, power bag carries and rope heaves. Eugh!After PT the
sections had a series of stands to visit around camp. These
ranged from basic life support and catastrophic bleed training
to a counter improvised explosive device and mines brief by
921 EOD Sqn. A judgmental shoot was conducted in the DCCT,
with the assistance of the RMP who provided ‘a voice of reason’ throughout the discussions. The LAD kindly taught 232
Sig Sqn Gp about vehicle extraction, all relevant to the Theatre
we are imminently due to deploy to.
Wednesday was our first day on the ranges. The initial stand
was conducted using the rifle where we did a ‘mini’ ACMT to
revise and remind our fire positions and shake out the cobwebs. We then moved on to the pistol (Sig Sauer P229) weapon handling test and then progressing to shooting in various
positions. Towards the end of the range after some excellent
coaching we were actually hitting the target, well some of us!
Sgt Joyce introduced us to the Carbine - the shortened version
of our personal weapon nicknamed the “stubby”. The final
lesson was on how to balance and test “The Guuuuun! The
Guuuuun!” the GPMG.
The second day on the ranges consisted of more Sig Sauer
shooting, which in my personal opinion should be the weapon
of choice by everybody in the armed forces. That is unless
you are strong enough to carry “The GUUUUN” and ammo
and barrels, etc. We were all given scores for the pistol shoot
and Sig ‘Tabs’ Tabaka achieved the highest score of the day,
congratulations to him. In the afternoon we conducted an
adaptation of the Fire and Movement test, just in time to
regurgitate our lunch. Cpl ‘Omar’ Brown got the fastest time
of the day, this was probably down to the fact that he was
thoroughly warmed up, as it was his 3rd attempt when he
passed the ‘fire’ part of the test.
Friday saw us carrying out an AFT and then Op PLUNDER for
our comfort boxes for tour. The OC took us through some
final briefings on welfare and COIN. Finally we had a talk from
the padre where we sang hymns in our Sqn lines and had a
blessing. The blessing was slightly unorthodox as by the end
of it we were all covered in “holy water”- I personally think he
just wanted to start a water fight!
The team enjoying a well earned beer on completion of the final days march
34
10th SIGNAL REGIMENT
CORSHAM
CO
RSM
Lt Col G E Bennett
WO1 (RSM) Nowosielski
The focus of 10 Sig Regt is to provide a constant and steady
stream of personnel to meet the rolling programme of
operational deployments. On a continued and sustained basis
nearly 20% of the Regts manpower is deployed at any one
time, with a further 10% held at high readiness in the UK.
This may well increase next year with the Olympic games and
the ceremonial demands of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
likely to be added to the current demands. Whilst the Sqns
are spread out across the UK from Northern Ireland to
Aldershot the Regt remains united under that operational
banner.
Coming together for the wider aspects of military and
regimental life requires a bit more effort but reap great
rewards. The past few months have seen everything from
operations and exercises to a hard fought CO’s Cup Basketball
and a much enjoyed Regtl Families’ day.
EXERCISE BRUNO BIKERIDE – by Sgt Gill
When a person is due to leave the colours it is only right and
proper they have an appropriate send off. So with the
impending departure of the Adjt, Capt Vaughan, it was time
to organise something unforgettable. Many possible options
were considered such as a meal and social, a round of golf, or
even a trip abroad but these would have been too easy.
So all RHQ personnel were invited to cycle 100 miles starting
from MOD Corsham and including the majority of the Avon
Cycle route.
When they stood on the start line it was like a scene from the
Tour de France with florescent lycra and racing bikes
everywhere. The QM even managed to collect a number of
spare bicycles (4 mountain bikes) so everyone could be
involved much to the joy of Sgt Gill. As the rain poured over
the bicycle helmets at 0730hrs, all that remained was to have
a ‘before’ photograph and get on our way.
We started with a gentle 25 miles from MOD Corsham to
Chew Lake, via Bath centre. This opener was fairly
uneventful; however, Maj Mark Harris kept disappearing on
outings of his own and must have covered an extra 10 miles.
At the check point everyone was suitably soaked and
disappointed that the admin team hadn’t produced the
promised hot sweet brew. After dealing with a slight graze
on the CO’s arm and with everybody still smiling (including
the RSM) the sun came out and we continued on our journey.
Having now cycled anticlockwise around Bristol and the coast
we headed up over the Avonmouth Bridge and north to
Thornbury which was pleasantly flat, although everyone had
been warned by Capt Chamberlain that the worst incline was
at the 75 mile point. With only 2 punctures to note the group
crossed the M4 making good time. So far the ground had
been undulating and spirits were still high (including the RSM)
but then the steep incline appeared. There was a willingness
and determination displayed by all riders but only a few had
the ability to cycle up it. At the top all of the riders were
greeted by the admin team, led by WO2 (RQMS) Chapman,
who was smiling and wondering what all of the fuss was
about.
Within touching distance of the finish line the group pushed
on, staying together until Cpl Steel decided to extend his bike
ride by making a slight detour. After the unscheduled stop to
regroup all that remained was the final few miles and at
1830hrs everyone arrived safely back at the QMs department
in Corsham. The admin team presented the refreshments and
after the CO said a final farewell to Capt Vaughan we all
agreed that the day would etched on our minds for a long
time.
225 (ECM(FP) SIGNAL SQUADRON
OC SSM Maj RJ Craig
WO2 (SSM) J Love
It has been another extremely busy period for 225 Sig Sqn
(ECM (FP)). Their continued support to Op HERRICK has seen
the deployment of an additional surge team to implement
new equipments to Theatre. This concentrated effort will
provide increased capability in Electronic Counter Measures
Force Protection whilst reducing weight and increasing
reliability. They are also now firmly embedded with the
OPTAG team, supplementing the PDT support provided with
The Tour De Bristol
35
dedicated support to RSOI in Theatre during the RiP periods.
In barracks whilst the primary focus remains force generation
and preparation for Ops they have managed to continue
routine training. This culminated with the annual Sqn Battle
Camp as Cpl Taylor, a TA augmentee explains….
“You’re on battle camp on Sunday”, is not the news I hoped
to hear on my first week in a new unit, however, it proved to
be a challenging but perfect opportunity to meet new
colleagues and absorb the unit ethos.
We loaded up our kit on a sunny Sunday afternoon and set
out for Magilligan Training Camp. A cosy sleep on the minibus
ended as we arrived at the camp - a series of rectangular
buildings clad in corrugated steel which seemed like it should
be part of the adjoining prison, with a similar feeling of
isolation.
Monday morning started with a steady state run followed by
a map reading theory lesson. In the afternoon we put our
revision to the test with practical navigation up in the hills.
The terrain ranged from paved roads through barbed wire,
forests, streams and peat bogs, a fact which made map
reading interesting as much of the wood-line had been altered
recently in order to carve up peat. After a few light showers,
the hikers’ mantra “better a rainy day on the hills, than a
sunny one in the office” emerged: a philosophy which we
would test to its limits later in the week.
On Tuesday we broke down into 3 sections and patrolled
between stands covering basic soldiering skills including long
forgotten arts such as how to erect a poncho, harbour drills,
how to throw an L1-11 and setting up trip flares. After a hearty
range stew the next stand involved judging the distance of a
Clint Eastwood target!
We then moved in to a small midge-infested wood and set
about hacking at the roots of trees in an attempt to dig
foxholes while moaning in the rain like sultry recruits. LCpl
Nick Cooke managed to set off his trip flare whilst double
checking he’d taken the safety pin out, I think he got his
answer! Finally we got into routine and, but for a couple of
shifts on the sentry position, had a surprisingly good night’s
sleep.
The next day started with a 0430 stand to, followed by
corned beef hash and a trip to the brick-built toilet (thank you
conservationalism!). The rain, which until now had been
sporadic, arrived in a torrential downpour (on orders from the
OC) and despite our hastily reconstructed bashers drenched
us from head to toe. The day continued with another series
of soldiering skills lessons, this time a little more advanced,
covering Close Target Reconnaissance, Battlefield Casualty
Drills, Section Attacks, and finally Bayonet drills. Sgt Rob
Bryan, who had been notably absent until this point, seemed
to exhaust himself sending us running, diving and leopard
crawling halfway across the field chanting “Blood, Blood,
Cpl MacDonald showing his aggression on the bayonet range
36
Blood.” For my own part, I was exhausted before I got near
to stabbing anything; however, we all found the session
enjoyable.
Following this we patrolled back into our trusty shellscrapes
from the night before and settled into routine, only to be
attacked by the DS twice in the middle of the night, leading to
an evacuation to the ERV, followed by an extraction tab. As
dawn broke we found ourselves tabbing up a steep incline
which even the Land Rover Safety Vehicle seemed to be
struggling with. The sun finally showed its face, not when we
were cold and wet but as we were exhausted and panting for
breath halfway up the hill. This said, even these
circumstances failed to diminish the stunning views.
Our new harbour location was infested by clouds of fleshhungry midges. Despite smearing ourselves with issued insect
repellent, we all spent the next 24 hours swatting, slapping
and swathing away in a vain effort to protect our hands,
necks and faces. Even our feet were midge-bitten in the few
seconds it took to powder feet and change our sodden socks.
The next task involved a patrol across the hill to collect
rations, which in spite of some creative map reading proved
mercifully easy. We then settled into routine and sleep in
preparation for the night’s recce patrol.
“Any order that can be misunderstood, will be
misunderstood”
The recce patrols started a little late after a misunderstanding
of the difference between “move no later than” and “return
no later than”. Patrolling out silently toward our target, I
thanked myself for deciding to don Gore-Tex trousers after
dragging the inside of my thigh over a barbwire fence and
gouging my leg through 2 layers of trousers. After a short
stay on target, we extracted via Landrover, headed back to
the harbour and spent the night scribbling our reports before
leaving the location for good and returning to Magilligan
training area.
The next phase was the section competition which started
easily enough with Military Knowledge and history quiz
before a quick tab to stand 2 where we were locked inside a
van with a pile of disassembled weapons and told to put them
back together. Stand 3 involved some seriously poor
attempts to throw a practice grenade at a series of targets.
By stand 4 we had covered some distance on already sore
feet, thankfully this stand involved naming regiments by their
cap badge and came as a much needed rest...prior to the next
stand. Stand 6 started with 2 mock casualties and involved
carrying out a well rehearsed routine of bandages, aid
memoires and reassurance.
Stretcher Race
Just when we thought it was all over we moved on to part 2,
the casualty extraction, which involved running, staggering,
shouting and screaming while carrying a loaded stretcher in a
giant loop in search of a theoretical evacuation point. We
then spent a few minutes composing ourselves before
ambling on to Stand 7, which involved a memory test and was
thankfully the last stop before the return march back to
Magilligan Camp.
The weekend was spent in the classroom, on Leadership and
Development lessons including Appreciations, Essay Writing,
and discussion groups after which our minds were as tired as
our bodies!
Week 2 consisted of a series of range packages interspersed
with MATTs lessons back in the classroom; a welcome change
from the previous week. The weather improved and we
managed to spend an afternoon on the beach playing
variations of rounder’s in conditions which almost resembled
summer. The range package progressed from basic
marksmanship through to the Individual Battle Skills Range
where we had a chance to exhaust any built up aggression in
our advance up the range through various fire positions.
Finally we loaded up our kit and set off home to Lisburn for
rifle cleaning, unloading of kit and an early night.
241 SIGNAL SQUADRON
OC SSM
Maj SJ Bristow
WO2 (SSM) P Belcher
241 Sig Sqn is a Sqn of Installation Technicians whose mission
is to provide ICS cabling, installation and specialist expertise
to UK, Expeditionary and OGD Operations in order to enable
the supported Commanders’ ICS. The Sqn currently has one
surge team deployed on Op HERRICK with another gearing up
to deploy in early October. They are also providing
infrastructure installation support to 1ADSR as they provide
the ICS for the HERRICK 15 MST series, in particular the FTX on
SPTA. With additional commitments and a robust training
package due to commence in September the soldiers are
preparing for a typically hectic half-year. 241 SIG SQN ABF CHARITY COLLECTION AND SPORTSMAN’S
DINNER NIGHT - by Cpl R G Heap
Every year 10 Sig Regt holds a Sportsman’s Dinner event to
celebrate the sporting achievements of the last 12 months.
During this event awards are presented to the Regts sports
person and sports team of the year, as well as sporting full
and half colours to individuals who have made significant
contributions to various sports. We also take this opportunity
to raise money for the Army Benevolent Fund, which is the
Regts chosen charitable organisation. This annual event is 241
Sig Sqns responsibility to organise and this year the running of
the event was led by SSgts Partridge and Ramsden. Initial
fund raising began several weeks before the event with teams
going forth to collect as much money as possible over 2 days.
On the first day team IC Sgt Brewster was tasked with bagpacking at Sainsbury’s in Chippenham. LCpl Kidd set up a
stand in the entrance to encourage deposits of cash from
passersby. Cpl Devlin cracked the whip as soldiers were
tasked to fill customers’ shopping bags as quickly and
efficiently as possible at the tills whilst simultaneously trying
to collect money and not break eggs!
The evening of the Sportsman’s Dinner itself was a great
success. A silent auction was conducted by SSgt Partridge for
the other prizes the Sqn had managed to procure including
premiership football team signed shirts, golf holes and various
days out. The main event then took place with CO Lt Col
Bennett handing out the sporting colours. The winner of the
main award for Sports Personality of the Year went to Maj
Smikle for his years of dedication to various sporting
activities, not only to the Regt but to the Corps, over his
military career spanning more than 3 decades. The whole
event as well as the auction and raffle on the night managed
to raise £5288 which was a fantastic effort from the small
element of soldiers not deployed from 241 Sig Sqn.
251 SIGNAL SQUADRON
OC
SSM
Maj JTD Wright
WO2 (SSM) Gronn
With the pace of life not reducing, the Sqn has been kept busy
over the last few months with various commitments to
Ceremonial Duties and UK Operations exercises too. In
addition, there have been a number of welcomes and
farewells with some key Sqn personalities changing over and
more off very shortly. UK Ops wise, the Sqn has been
225 Signal Squadron
37
supporting Ex HOT SANDS at RAF Swynnerton, the second of
the Technical Response Force’s annual 2 week exercises. This
was a chance for the new Training Yeoman, SSgt (YofS)
Mitchell, to see the soldiers doing their core business in
various locations all over the UK as well as providing vital
training opportunities on Tyndale. Since returning, the guys
have been preparing for and delivering additional training
courses which were run in order to bring the influx of new
soldiers up to speed on the Sqns bespoke equipments.
Finally, the Sqn has supported an Op BANKNOTE exercise at
RAF Honnington which was a great success.
Not to be outdone, the Ceremonial Ops side of the house has
also been eventful with the Queens Birthday Parade in June.
During this, the SOinC(A) visited and had the opportunity to
witness first hand the Sqns soldiers on parade. With many
hellos and goodbyes occurring, it seems only right to mention
some key players who have departed. SSgt (FofS) Teasdale
and SSgt (FofS(IS)) Storey have both left along with the Ops
Offr, Capt (Tfc) White and the Sqn wishes them all the very
best in their new posts.
243 SIGNAL SQUADRON
OC
Maj D Hughes
Maj Nev Smikle hands over Command to Maj Dave Hughes
The last 3 months have seen a staged change in the
management of 243 Sig Sqn from top to bottom, with a
complete hierarchy change to the SHQ. Starting with the OC
where the Sqn said fond goodbye to Maj Nev Smikle to DE&S
ISS Networks and welcome to Maj Dave Hughes from DE&S
ISS GOSCC. They also say a fond farewell to SSM Alford who
departs the Corps on completion of 22 years service. His relief,
WO2 Attwell, will soon join from 7 Sig Regt in Sep 11.
605 (ICS SP) SIG TP
Capt (ToT(IS)) Jules Thorne, OC 605 Sig Tp and Sqn Ops Offr
has now handed over to Capt (ToT(IS)) Nicky Coombs.
Additionally Sgt Hunsperger departs the Army after 14 years
service and is focused on chancing his luck on Dragon’s Den.
The Sqn also says a fond farewell to Sgt Leatherby who
leaves to commence her FofS training at Blandford. Good
luck to all in their new environments and especially to the
new incumbents as the Sqn continues to focus on support to
Op OLYMPIC.
The Tp also welcomes back SSgt FofS (IS) Kennie after a short
tour of what can only be described as Pakistan’s version of
Big Brother! Congratulations to LCpl Sear on his recent
selection for promotion to Cpl, a well deserved promotion
which will only increase his ego and ability to spend more on
beauty and hair products!
643 (CYBER) SIG TP
The Tp says a fond farewell to 2 of the first incumbents of
643, who spent the first 2 months in the Corps newest ‘Cyber’
Tp painting and cleaning! The 2 who will be leaving are
Sgt Aitchison, who has been the Tp’s G4 guru. He has tried to
develop his golf skills by attending a course, however the old
age adage of ‘you pass you test and then learn to drive’ is
definitely relevant!
Cpl Symington, who has lost 4 stone in weight and gained 5
stone in ego moves a mere 500 metres on camp and leaves a
massive void to fill in a sports and social capacity! Good luck
to both and your families in your new roles, you will be sorely
missed!
ELMPT
CO
RSM
Lt Col AM Fallows
WO1 (RSM) T Hodgskins
EXERCISE DIAMOND EAGLE 10-17 Jul 11 - by Lt N Perkins
It was obvious why Martin Boorman had chosen this
particular site for his ambitious project to build the
Kehlsteinhaus as a present from the Nazi Party to their
beloved Fuhrer on his 50th birthday. Known in English as the
Eagle’s Nest, the Kehlsteinhaus was designed as a mountain
retreat and teahouse where Adolf Hitler could entertain
foreign dignitaries, and it commands breathtaking views over
the Konigsee and surrounding peaks. Now a restaurant, it
played host to 22 members of 16 Sig Regt and one from 7 Sig
Regt on 16 July, some nursing hangovers and all reflecting on
the week of mountaineering that had been Ex DIAMOND
EAGLE. Our enjoyment of the views was enhanced by the
bright sunshine and clear skies, which were in stark contrast
to the weather that had greeted us on our arrival in GarmischPartenkirchen 6 days earlier.
Having checked the weather forecast online before departing,
my hopes had not been high and my fears seemed to be
38
borne out as the rain hammered on the minibus roof and
bounced up off the road to be whipped into a mist by the
driving wind. With the roads covered in water and Rod
Stewart singing ‘We are sailing’ on the radio, we tried to force
down the fear of shipwreck and fervently crossed our fingers
in the hope that it would stop before we had to put the tents
up.
An earlier and premature encounter with a Cliff (a rather
unfortunate American motorcyclist) and one or 2 wrinkles to
iron out with security at the US Armed Forces Recreation
Centre in Garmisch had added hours to our journey time, but
sometimes fate is on your side and as it turned out we hit a
window of clear weather and were able to make camp in the
dry.
After some consultation and a map recce, instructors Sgt Phil
Eaves, myself and JSMEL Cpl Tom ‘McLovin’ Burke agreed our
route for day one, intended as a rather gentle introduction to
the week with a reasonable finish time and a barbeque in the
evening. Of course no plan survives first contact, so all 3
groups eventually came off the mountain after an epic 10
hours of walking, up, down, up some more, down, back up
the same slope, back down it again and so on. Tempers were
fraying and teddies were in danger of being thrown by the
time we finally met up with the admin party and the
minibuses. Unwittingly we had achieved all of the aims of AT
on the first day, which will no doubt live long in the memory.
Sig ‘Cable Car’ Green commented ‘I was a broken man,’ and
Sig ‘Hot Air Balloon’ Almond said later in the week, ‘This is
the hardest AT I’ve ever done...especially Monday!’
Ex DIAMOND EAGLE at the Eagle’s Nest
After the emotional trauma of Monday we rewrote the script
to give the students a bit of rest and recuperation after a
morning of micro navigation in the blistering sunshine. In the
local swimming pool the 5 metre diving board became the
scene of yet more sojourns outside of comfort zones, some
interesting costumes and a few aerial ‘Jimmies’. The weather
for the second half of the week was somewhat damp, with
the cloud clinging stubbornly to the mountainsides and
restricting visibility. The drop in temperature after Tuesday
was welcome, however, as it made the ascents of Wank on
Wednesday and the Zugspitze on Thursday and Friday less
likely to end in heatstroke.
After further confirmation of navigation skills and teamwork
on an ascent of the amusingly-named Wank and the
obligatory group photo at the Wank-Haus, we prepared
ourselves for the 2-day ascent of Germany’s highest mountain,
the Zugspitze, which we had planned for Thursday and Friday.
Setting off early on Thursday morning we started the long
walk through the Partenach Klamm gorge and the valley that
led to the Zugspitze itself. The weather remained damp and a
persistent drizzle ensured that everyone was wet through.
Even at low level the views in the valley were fantastic, with
the sheer rocks rising on both sides and the impossibly clear
water tumbling along its rocky bed.
be a natural jacuzzi. The water temperature was around zero
degrees Celsius so we didn’t stay long! Making the long
ascent to the Knorrhutte at 2,051m, where we would stay that
night, we could only guess at the views along the valley that
we were missing out on as we trudged on in a virtual whiteout. We reached the Knorrhutte in good time, dried off and
warmed up with a hot dinner before getting an early night, as
we intended to strike out for the summit at 0430 hours on
Friday.
Sgt Phil Eaves’ group does a Jimmy
The view from above the KehlsteinhausA
The 3 groups set off in the pre dawn gloom, led by Cpl Tom
Burke’s group, who all hoped to gain their SMP qualification
from the exercise. Cpl Burke led as the most senior
instructor, as it was his call as to whether we would actually
make the summit. In the end he led his group up a
challenging ascent above the Sonn Alpin ski centre as far as
he could before determining that it was unsafe to continue.
The other 2 groups arrived at Sonn Alpin at 2,600m to see the
SMP group about 100 metres higher, probing for a possible
route. This was somewhat complicated by the sudden drop in
temperature that was accompanied by flurries of snow –
proof that mountain weather is anything but predictable.
Seeking shelter in the Ski Centre, groups 2 and 3 waited for
Cpl Burke to bring his group safely back down. This proved
more difficult that getting up there, with Pte ‘CJ’ Kotze
commenting, ‘That was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.’
Giving up on the summit was not easy, but given the
conditions and the experience of both instructors and
students, it would have been irresponsible to continue.
On the descent from Sonn Alpin we were at least
compensated with a break in the clouds which presented
some stunning views down the valley.
On the Zugspitze, Day 4. The Weather was not on our side
Rising higher, we began to enter the cloud, but not before
marvelling at the various waterfalls that fed the river below
and in some cases sampling the delights of what appeared to
The decision to climb no further took little away from the
week which had proven more physically and emotionally
challenging than many exped members had envisaged, and
the sense of achievement and satisfaction was not dented at
all. Many of the students learned more about their own
limits, which will no doubt serve them well in their careers.
39
I cannot end this article without a special mention of the 4
chefs who not only played a full part in the exped, but also
provided for us admirably throughout the week. My thanks
go to them, LCpl Chemjong, Pte Rai of 7 Sig Regt, Pte ‘CJ’
Kotze and Pte ‘Spoons’ Thomas, and also to both Cpl Burke
of 37 Sig Regt (V) and the admin team of Sgt Jase Kent and
Sgt Steve Livesey.
OFFICERS Vs SERGEANTS CRICKET 15 JUN 11
- by Lt M Kruszynski
Stereotypes, there are many of them. One such stereotype is
that Aussies love cricket. This is not too far from the truth for
cricket is played enthusiastically nation wide, and not just by
posh private school boys. Another such stereotype is that
Aussies are good at cricket. This I would contest. While our
dominance of the international cricket arena is virtually
unsurpassed, (Ashes? What Ashes?) a significant portion of
Aussie cricket supporters are the armchair generals of the
sporting world.
In spite of this fact (or perhaps because of it, who knows?) I
was chosen, as the in situ representative of the Great
Southern Land, of organising the Officers vs Seniors Cricket
match because obviously, that is what Australian officers do.
Undaunted however, the wheels were set in motion. The
pitch was booked and prepared, food and drink very kindly
organised by WO2 (SSM) Wedge from 230 Sig Sqn, PMC of
the WOs and Sgts Mess, the rules slightly modified and
finalised and then promptly changed 5 minutes before the
start of the match.
Having elected to bowl first, the Officers team took up their
positions on the field and set about sizing up their
undoubtedly stiff competition. Believing our opponents to be
virtually unbeatable, it was a pleasant surprise to see the
Seniors team’s more formidable players such as WO2 (SSM)
Wedge and SSgt Shubert topple like pins in the face our
ferocious bowling deliveries. Little did we know that we were
about to be faced with Sgt Kent whose succession of fours
and sixes left the Officers questioning their chances of
success.
Prior to the game, it had been decided that in the interest of
giving everyone a turn, a batsman must retire after 25 runs.
After Sgt Kent’s seemingly endless onslaught, the officers
were left wondering whether the Seniors had flagrantly
disregarded the rules (which would not have surprised
anyone), only to be informed that Sgt Kent was sitting on a
convenient 24. From that point on, we began to doubt the
integrity and level of commitment of our scorekeepers. The
fact that the ever-sly SSgt Briggs persistently loitered around
the scorekeepers’ area did not dispel our concerns. With the
innings coming to an end, the Seniors were left with a
respectable but not insurmountable score of 88 runs.
The delicious afternoon tea break saw the officers team
quickly plan out their batting strategy, becoming ever bolder
with the added lubricating effect of a well deserved glass of
Pimm’s. Whilst the seniors meant business when it came to
bowling and fielding, the score for the officers team climbed
slowly but steadily. With the aid of OPSO Maj Lyons’s
impressive run total (also a convenient 24 when questioned)
and the solid contribution by Lt Prady and Lt Flecchia, victory
for the officers seemed a real possibility. This, however, was
not to be. No amount of dead ground counselling for the
scorekeepers or last minute batting assistance from the RMO
Capt Reynolds could change the fact that numbers do not lie.
The innings for the Officers ended with a painfully close 77
runs. In the end however, it was the fun and satisfaction of a
day of healthy competition (and abundant supplies of
sandwiches and Pimm’s) that most prominently remained in
40
everyone’s minds. All that remained was a relaxed BBQ at the
Officers Mess for all the Regt’s officers, seniors and families
to cap off an enjoyable day.
RACE THE SUN - by Cpl Rone
Under the cover of the last hour of darkness 16 highly tuned
courageous athletes from 16 Sig Regt awoke to take on the
challenge that 2 Sig Regt had laid before them; a 15 leg multi
activity endurance race over the Yorkshire Moors,
commencing at first light and to be completed before last.
Leg one: Run and Canoe (0.5km run/6km paddle). As the first
rays of light beamed over the eastern horizon and shone on
the cold waters of the River Ouse our team captain, Lt Prady,
stood heart in hand on the line of departure waiting for the
Big Go at 0500hrs. Boom! Off went the Big Go, and off went
Lt Prady like a hungry greyhound with only one thing on his
mind, getting to his canoe first, and that he did.
Unfortunately for the hungry greyhound what should have
been on his mind was ‘does that spray deck thing go on back
first then front or front first then back?’ To be fair to him it
was 50:50. Putting this small technical issue behind him he
took to the open water rapidly propelling his canoe into the
distance leaving the competition in his wake and finished a
very respectable fourth.
Leg 2: River Run (12km). Anxiously waiting for Lt Prady on
the bank of the River Ouse was Sig Barnes. As soon as the
hot canoe crossed the finish line Sig Barnes was gone, turning
loose footpath gravel into dust. Soon he was hot on the front
runners heels and managed to gain a place putting us into
third position by the time he reached the finish line at Linton
Lock. (Sig Barnes completed this leg in the quickest time of
all competitors that day).
Leg 3: Run and Bike (7km run / 27km cycle). Limbering up at
Linton Lock was Sgt Hilbert. Sig Barnes was in and off went
Sgt Hilbert. After a fast run time he reached his awaiting
bike. He mounted the stealthy black racing bike and ‘road it
like he stole it! His pro like riding was a thing of beauty, until
the chain came off! After getting down and dirty with the
chain he was back on and blazing up the A19. After a fast
gruelling 27km ride like a gust of hot wind Sgt Hilbert crossed
the finish line giving Lt Crane and LCpl Johnston the nod to
start Leg 4.
Leg 4: Hill Run (5km). Two men, one hill, fast as you can, GO!
Like mountain goats on Red Bull Lt Crane and LCpl Johnston
made rapid progress up the near vertical hill. After 5km of
pure adrenaline filled vertical running they had reached the
very welcome sight of the finish line.
Leg 5: Forced March/ TAB, (12.5km). With a 15kg bergen the
mentally and physically prepared Sgt Callaghan and Sig
Husband ran off into the Yorkshire Moors covering the
ground as fast as humanly possible. With the gruelling 12.5km
of fun behind him Sgt Callaghan crossed the finish line in an
impressive third position, shortly followed by Sig Husband.
Leg 6: Moor Run (10km). With Sgt Callaghan in, Maj Cowan
and SSgt (FofS(IS)) Brotherston had the green light to go.
Off they went like there was no tomorrow, smashing up the
tranquil tracks of the Rievaulx Moor. Holding on to our
strong position the Moor Run was soon complete.
Leg 7: Half Marathon (21km). This leg was on me (Cpl Rone).
0900hrs mass start. As the clock struck 9, I crossed the start
line, with the one thing on the agenda, beating the 7 Sig Regt
contender. After 12km there was one thing clear, 16 Sigs were
the ones to fear. Neither hills nor sand could stop me now, 7
Sigs step back and take a bow. 1hr 30.
Leg 8: Mountain Bike (24km). On sight of Cpl Rone crossing
the half marathon finish line, Lt Crane had the thumbs up to
go. Once again it was time for man and machine to become
one. Off Lt Crane went, tearing up the Moors with his rapid
spinning rear tyre, looking for traction where ever it could
find it. With the awesome power of the human engine
onboard Lt Crane had soon covered the 24km of arduous
terrain and crossed the line finish line in a very respectable
third position.
Leg 9: Fell Run (10km). With the mountain bike safely in, the
hungry for victory Lt Osabwa sprinted off into the fells of
Levisham moor at an enviable pace, passing through Horcum,
Blakey Topping and then the Bridestones, soon to be greeted
at the welcoming finish line by Lt Col Fallows and Cpl
Robinson.
Leg 10: Orienteering (10km). Map-check, compass-check,
whistle-check, Dalby Forest-Go! Lt Col Fallows and Cpl
Robinson, both navigational geniuses, dispersed from the
start line looking for the 12 controls. As the leg drew to a
close it was clear that Lt Col Fallows was the nav ninja and Cpl
Robinson a geographically challenged nav ninja, though a
ninja nevertheless. With the control points collected the pair
were back in to give the forest runner his cue to go.
The 16SR Race the Sun Team
Leg 11: Forest Run (10km). On the cue to go Cfn Skill ran, ran
and ran some more, gliding through Dalby Forest all the way
to Thornton-Le-Dale, there was no stopping this boy he was
on fire! As he crossed the line he was happy with the second
best time of the day.
Leg 12: Cycle Orienteering (30km). After putting Cfn Skill out
with the nearest red fire extinguisher SSgt (FofS(IS))
Brotherston headed out on his bike to navigate the check
points. Hoping for maximum points on his successful return
from all 4 check points, he was disappointed to find his
waterproof pen had smudged his answers to the questions at
the check points in the torrential downpour.
Lt Dave Prady
Leg 13: Swim (900m). Sig Claxton the torpedo was all
dressed in his tightest Speedos, lunging, when the news came
in the event was cancelled due to unforseen circumstances.
Devastated, Sig Claxton headed back to camp with his head
held high ready to be used later, dressed of course.
Leg 14: Bike and Run (24km cycle / 6km run). Lt Prady was
back and hungrier than ever. Biathlon time, Go! With legs like
firing pistons Lt Prady burnt off his competition from the
start, with determination and pure passion and a few cheeky
drag tactics on the bike, which didn’t go down too well, he
finished the race in a superb second position.
Leg 15: Stretcher Race. The team was reunited back in
Imphal Barracks. Only one leg left, the stretcher race! Six
physically hardened men from a rigorous and relentless
training regime all sharing the same goal, to get the 40kg
stretcher around the 5km course in the fastest possible time.
The Plan, run hard with a single minded goal of success. No
plan B.
Lt Dave Prady
With focus, determination and bags of controlled aggression
Lt Crane, Sgt Hilbert, Cpl Rone, Cpl Robertson, Sig Barnes,
and Sig Claxton sprinted of with the stretcher and set the
epic pace with Lt Crane controlling the team all the way
round. With a lot of tough competition the strong, disciplined
athletes from 16 Sig Regt crossed the line with a sprint finish
with a ranking of top third.
With not a lot left in the tank the final presentations brought
the epic day to an end. However the evening had just begun.
Carb’ing up in the local boozers soon had our tanks and
senses of humour refilled.
The stretcher team digs deep
41
SUPPORT SQUADRON
OC
SSM
Maj A Higgins
WO2 (SSM) Barrie
EXERCISE RHINO CATERER 2011 - by Sgt Stoneley
It was that time of the year again where numerous teams
from 1 UK Div, would represent their Regt and Catering
department and take part in the Catering competition in
Princess Royal Barracks, Gutersloh, the Naafi Rhino Caterer
competition.
I was tasked by UCMs of 7 and 16 Sig Regts to prepare the
team for the competition, which involved all the pre training,
administration and ensuring the team were ready to compete.
I was given a 3 week period in which to achieve this. Week 1
involved mainly administration and menu planning with
physical training sessions each morning. Week 2 was a MATT
training week in Haltern, I am currently the Senior Instructor
and SQMS for the Regtl training wing, so I deployed the team
to Haltern to complete their MATT’s with me and complete
any further necessary training as per the training programme,
which I produced to ensure we were fully prepared. Week 3
was the cooking week, with practice run throughs of the field
catering, improvised and live cook events. All training and
cooking run throughs were very effective, both UCM’s invited
numerous key personalities from their respective Regts to
view our training and install an extra little bit of pressure and
atmosphere that we were likely to experience during the
competition. The 3-week training programme went according
to plan, I firmly believed that I had prepared the team well
and was very confident that we had a winning team.
The competition commenced at 1600 hrs on 14 June 2011, with
an administration brief from WO1 Asquith and a team captains
brief where all team captains would draw their plot, this is a
number relevant to the main events list. This year I drew out
number 1, to my delight, I mentioned to numerous Directing
Staff that this would also be the finishing position of Elmpt
Station this year.
Day 1 and we were straight into the Escape and Evasion part
of the competition at 2000 hrs. I firmly believed that this was
an area in which we would have to do really well. We only got
caught once by the hunter dog force and completed the route
in the quickest time of the competition. It was a very difficult
and demanding exercise and there were numerous dogs and
infantry soldiers on the search for all the teams.
Day 2 would commence at 0430 hrs, only 90 minutes sleep
after previously completing the Escape and Evasion exercise.
The team were very tired, and with the sound of my alarm
clock and voice at 0430 hrs, the lads were up straight away
and ready for breakfast at 0500 hrs. We would start the day
with the March and Assault event. The March and Assault is a
key event with 500 points up for grabs. I had a very fit team
and firmly believed we would do well. The team did not let
me down, they put 100% into all of the activities including a
weighted tab, assault course, tug-of-war, ammo tin lift and
weighted jerry-can carry. It sounds very physically demanding
on paper and believe me, it was. Pte Reed, one of my team
members, expressed, “I didn’t realise it would be this
physically demanding.” , I replied, “ keep going, it is only day
2”. Within an hour of finishing this event, we were straight
into the live cook event. Pte Reed and I were the only team
members that would compete in this area. LCpl Brown and
LCpl Chemjong, the remaining 2 members of the team, could
sit back, relax and cheer us on. The Military Skills event
followed the live cook event and this year the following areas
were tested; FOB security; Patrol skills; OP and BCDT. I
expected us to do really well in this event as I am currently
employed with the training wing, LCpl Brown has just recently
42
completed a tour in Afghanistan out of role and LCpl
Chemjong is a previous serving soldier of the RGR. They did
not let me down and Pte Reed enjoyed the experience around
him.
Day 3 commenced at 0430 hrs again with breakfast being
served at 0500hrs. We were straight into the improvised
cooking event first. This is a very demanding and key event.
There were live chickens incorporated into this years event,
and the mystery box full of rations with lots of potential for
an appetising menu on an Afghan theme. We produced a 3
course menu from the improvised cooking equipment and
received some excellent feedback from both Maj Lomas and
Simon Rimmer, who were 2 of the judges for this event. On
completion, we would be ready for the last event, fieldcatering. The field-catering event was a 3-hour scenario, in
which we had to serve a buffet for 20 people with 2 main
choices and 2 desserts. This went according to plan, the food
was cooked to perfection and the kitchen ran like clockwork.
During the judging, one judge quoted, “this is fit for
Sandown.” We won this event, during which LCpl Chemjong
simultaneously competed in the drivers stand, where he
scored 220 points from a possible 250, a job well done for a
chef by trade.
The presentation took place at 1600 hrs. I told my team that
they had done an excellent job from start to finish, and I
firmly believed that we had an excellent chance of being the
overall winners. I was proved right when the winning team of
the Naafi Rhino Caterer 2011 competition was announced as,
“Elmpt Station Catering Department.” I was a very proud
man and especially very proud of my team. I said to the team
at the start of the competition, I wanted them to put 110% into
everything we did, have a smile of their face throughout the
competition and put any mistakes that may occur behind
them and move on. It was an excellent competition and I can
now retire from Rhino Caterer as captain of the reigning
champions. I would like to thank both Catering Departments
and Regts for their support throughout. Till next
year…………..
230 (MALAYA) SIGNAL SQUADRON
OC
SSM
Maj HJ Scott
WO2 (SSM) Wedge
EXERCISE MALAYA SWORD - by Lt Perkins
As the Hybrid Foundation Training phase makes way for MST
1, the opportunities for individuals to organise AT and
exercises of their own devising are thinning out. Cpl Stewart
of Bastion Tp seized the moment to organise a Sqn level
Bowman training exercise intended to ‘refresh, develop and
enhance’ the skills of those involved. For Cpl Stewart it was a
chance to address the frustrations that he had experienced
when taking part in exercises organised by others, however
he swiftly discovered that it was not as easy as he had
thought bringING an exercise to fruition. Assisted by his Tp
Comd, Lt Lorains, he quickly got down into the weeds of
requesting kit, booking areas, liaising with other locations and
assigning frequencies and after a stressful few weeks the
moment arrived. Faced with a classroom of expectant faces
awaiting their pre-exercise education, he and Cpl Robertson
ably delivered a package of refresher training, despite some
deficiencies in the loan pool kit, on Bowman operation,
BATCO and Voice Procedure, among other subjects. Properly
prepared, the troops went forth in week 2 to put their
knowledge into practice. After the obligatory PACEX, there
were practical sessions on antennas and propagation, HCDR
and ComBAT delivered by Cpl Hazell, Cpl Raloka, LCpl Jacobs
and LCpl Rudkins before a final confirmation exercise. With a
detachment in Herford, the exercise team ran serials on both
VHF and HF to test the exercising troops and ensure that the
training had taken hold. On the whole this phase ran
smoothly and the level of competence shown on all the
detachments was admirable. Slightly stressed but pleased
with the outcome of his exercise, Cpl Stewart now has a newfound respect for Ops teams who organise larger exercises.
back to the younger generation is the primary intent.
Donations are greatly welcomed at www.justgiving.com/
ironsoldier no matter how small, every little counts.
*Registered Charity No 235825
SPECIAL TO ARM TRAINING - by Lt Perkins
STA courses started early in the HFT phase of the Operational
Cycle, but the programme has really kicked into gear recently
with 230 Sqn personnel frequently scattered to the 4 winds,
some being away from the unit for several consecutive
weeks. This burden of ‘nights out of bed’ is a heavy one and
will only get heavier for many in the Sqn when MST 1 and MST
2 get into full swing. It is a well known fact that a 6 month
tour usually means closer to 12 months of intense activity that
takes personnel away from homes and families, but some are
already beginning to feel the implications that this will bring.
The task of organising the STA matrix (or ‘Simtrix’) within the
Sqn falls to SSgt (YofS) Sim Chochangi, and his army of
assistants can usually be found moving sticky labels around
the giant Simtrix in the Sqn Ops room as courses are moved
or cancelled and people are posted in. If completing a busy
programme of courses is onerous, then the task of
coordinating all those courses must also come close. There is
also, of course, a challenge for the Tp hierarchy in
administrating and reporting on troops who are rarely in unit,
and it is incumbent upon us to ensure that such things are not
allowed to slip in their absence. I can’t help thinking it’ll be
easier when we’re on tour…
ICS TRAINING DELIVERED TO OFFICERS AND WARRANT
OFFICERS - by Lt Perkins
With our soldiers busy, and often absent, with STA training,
the officers and warrant officers of the Regt must also look
ahead to our roles on Op HERRICK 16 and consider the need
to understand the systems and applications for which we and
our troops will be responsible. 230 Sqn has led a programme
of training for officers and warrant officers which is aimed at
providing the necessary level of knowledge that might
otherwise be deficient. Delivered by SSgt Wilman and SSgt
(FofS(IS)) Brotherston, the lessons have covered such
fundamentals as the Overtask laydown in Theatre and the
common problems that can be expected with the network
and equipment. Such knowledge is vital, and although it is a
personal responsibility to ensure that we know enough about
the networks to manage them effectively, a formalised
training session is the ideal way of making certain that the
necessary information is promulgated to the right people.
One session coincided with a visit from GOC Theatre Troops,
Maj Gen Burley, who was able to observe the training in
progress.
FRANKFURT IRONMAN TRIATHLON
- by SSgt (FofS(IS)) J Brotherston
On 24 July 2011, SSgt Jon Brotherston and Sgt Ian ‘Robbo’
Robson will stand alongside approximately 2,500 other
athletes and nervously wait for the starting cannon to begin
the 226km race: 3.8km of swimming, 180km of cycling and
42.2km of r unning. Add into the mix that all competitors
start the swim at exactly the same time, relentless summer
sun and a strict time limit of 15 consecutive hours (2 hours less
than 70% of all other Iron distance races), and you have the
basic components of Ironman® Frankfurt. True to a soldier’s
form their efforts are not without additional motive, actively
fund-raising for Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH)
charity* Jon and Ian hope to raise a large amount of money.
Their decision to choose GOSH was influenced by their own
children and the selfless commitment that serving parents
worldwide make on a daily basis. Being able to give a little
SSgt Brotherston and Sgt Robson will be swimming, cycling and
running for charity.
255 (BAHRAIN) SIGNAL SQUADRON
OC
SSM
Maj A Lawson
WO2 (SSM) Birch
ELMPT STATION HISTORY TOUR - by Sig Nash
On 13 July 2011, 255 Sig Sqn went on an Elmpt station history
tour with Charlie Booker as our tour guide. The tour started
just outside Hangar 2 in the small bunker under the grass
bank. After a short struggle to find the right key Charlie
opened the heavy door and led us downstairs to the
underground bunker. He then explained how the bunker was
used by the Flight Marshall and how he used to control the
aircraft from underground which we all thought was a tad
strange. Charlie then took us to the air traffic control tower
which is where the Flight Marshall moved to after everyone
had realised how difficult it was to control air traffic from
underground!
From the tower we went to the mission briefing centre which
was very interesting because it still had all of the CBRN state
boards and map boards on the walls but also because it was
littered with paintballs which nobody could explain.
Then the most interesting part of the tour took place when
we visited the secure compound in which nuclear warheads
were stored during the cold war, but I think everyone was
more interested in all of the ex military vehicles and kit that
was stored there which is all for sale! So as we drove round
the compound and Charlie was explaining all of the bunkers,
all everyone else could hear was Cpl Dave Horton shouting
“I’m going to buy that!” for everything we passed.
We then went up the old COMCEN of the camp and everyone
was intrigued as to what was inside as we drive past it
everyday to work and nobody knows anything about it. On
going inside it was very interesting, it looked like something
you would find on a ‘Call of Duty’ level. Some very intricate
exploring was carried out. Overall it was a great experience
which everyone enjoyed and would recommend to anyone
thinking of doing it. Everyone was very thankful to LCpl Brett
Johnston for organising the tour for the Sqn and Charlie
43
Booker for taking us round and being a very informative tour
guide.
THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A CPL IN C TP 255
SIGNAL SQUADRON - by Cpl Smith
This topic is not an easy topic to write on as a Cpl’s job is
incredibly varied and diverse. At one end of the spectrum you
have a section commander in one of the teeth arms right on
the front line, in charge of the wellbeing and when it comes
down to it the life of the soldiers within his section. The other
end of the spectrum is where I, Cpl Smith, fit into the big
green machine also known as the British Army. I am currently
posted into 255 Sig Sqn as a Comms Sys Engr. This involves a
number of jobs. My trade means that I spend some time
working within the tech workshop going through receipts and
issues, an invaluable task that often goes un-noticed. This
involves doing all the paperwork for any bit of kit that comes
in requiring testing and repairing. Job number 2 of the day
could easily be testing and repairing the kit that has come into
the Tech Workshop. I am also required to carry out when
necessary first and second line inspections.
A key part of my job is getting ready to deploy on operations
and that means that I’m regularly away on courses doing my
special to arm training. As Tp Storeman I’m responsible for
getting the stores ready for all inspections including Board of
Officers, quarterly returns checks, ECIs etc, and on top of this
there’s the day to day which includes holding all of the
Bowman kit within the Tp and the usual issues and returns. A
completely different part of my job is Tp Cpl. This is more of
an admin role within the Tp and the sort of jobs I do here
again vary quite a lot. Tasks include taking nominal rolls,
making sure everybody in the Tp knows where to be and
when, briefing the guys on any pertinent points and generally
making sure things are running smoothly on the shop floor.
Since stepping up from LCpl I’ve realised how much more
responsibility you have within the Tp and Sqn as a Cpl. It can
be a really demanding job but it is very rewarding and I
definitely wouldn’t swap back!
ARMED FORCES DAY - by Sig Johnson
Sig Atherton and I were asked to represent the Regt at the
Armed Forces Day held at JHQ Rheindahlen on 2 July 2011,
organised by Sgt Hulbert. We were to take 2 of our Bowman
Detachments and give a demonstration on how we work
within the Royal Corps of Signals. On the Friday before we
went to JHQ we thoroughly rehearsed what we would show
the crowds and the rehearsals went well.
On the day, we had the Bowman Detachments set up and
ready to transmit, we had ComBAT up and running, ready to
show how the new systems can provide situational
awareness. We even had a 12 metre mast up with the Regtl
flag flying high. It was all going to plan until we were told
right at the last minute that we couldn’t transmit due to
health and safety reasons. Thinking quickly on our feet we
changed our plan so that the kids and other visitors could still
enjoy the “static display” we had now become. Just as were
adding the finishing touches to our new set-up, more military
vehicles turned up taking us by surprise! On our left we had a
Reacher Det and to our right we had a Panther and a Warrior.
Up against that sort of competition we initially thought that
we didn’t stand a chance of drawing the biggest crowd, but
our natural fighting spirit came through and we readied
ourselves for the crowds. Two hours later Armed Forces Day
was in full swing, a large crowd headed towards us. We were
getting ready to show them around but sadly it wasn’t for us,
unfortunately they went right past us and headed to the
Panther and Warrior and then to the Reacher Det. This
carried on for an hour or so until we got our first visitor. He
44
was a veteran of the Royal Corps of Signals and he was
amazed at how advanced we had become compared to when
he had served in World War Two! After he had left we had a
lot of children asking us to show them what we do. They sat
in the Detachments with the headsets on and had a play on
ComBAT; they actually seemed to really enjoy it.
Towards the end of the day people started to leave to get
ready for Party in the Park which was happening that evening.
Even though we had been unable to transmit we had showed
a number of interested people around our stand and all the
kids had had a great time so all in all the whole day was huge
success!
IT’S A KNOCKOUT JUL 11 - by LCpl Lewis
On 25 Jun, 10 members of 255 Sig Sqn travelled to JHQ to take
part in fun and games in celebration of Armed Forces Day.
The 10 elite members handpicked by LCpl Johnston were to
take part in a series of events to test agility, accuracy,
robustness and, of course, self pride. Before the 3 events took
place, the “Green Goblins” as we had named ourselves,
courtesy of the green 255 Sqn football strip, had to sign a
disclaimer and undertake a less than conventional warm up.
The warm up saw us doing the Hokey Cokey, Ring-a-Roses,
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, the YMCA and a freestyle
dance off. Sig Eagleson’s post watershed, point scoring,
dance moves, gave us a promising start. There were a few
costumes at the first event that we had to wear whilst
participating. So as we donned our Teletubbies costumes, we
turned to see LCpl Kotze, a 6ft 5in, South African Dipsy. We
were readying ourselves for what lay ahead. The task involved
us sprinting towards the inflatable equipment, complete with
inflatable pillars. Each pillar had coloured hoops on it, specific
to our team, and being Green Goblins, it was only fitting to
have the green hoops. We then had to sprint off the
inflatable and get the hoop over a smaller inflatable pillar, a
sprint back to the next person saw your turn complete, but
only with a high five. LCpl Lewis would start the ‘Goblins’
Knockout campaign with each of the team members
following after in quick succession. Achieving second place
the ‘Goblins’ were off to a good start.
After the excitement of the first task we moved onto the
second in high spirits. We had to jump into a sack, hop to a
cargo net, which we had to crawl under, retrieving the
basketball from the bucket which had to be shot backwards
into an inflatable basketball hoop. On the return we had to
get a bean bag, back under the net, into the sack and onto
the next person. Unfortunately after some confusion from
Sig Metcalfe not picking up his bean bag and having to go
again, combined with some cheating from other teams, our
second event wasn’t as successful, but spirits remained high.
The 3rd event looked the most fun. Involving 2 members of
the team bouncing on a double space hopper to the inflatable
filled with foam and, you guessed it, a coloured specific item
to us. The soldier on the space hopper would bounce back to
collect the next passenger for the foam pit. This time round
we had to collect a ball, which we had to shoot into another,
yes, INFLATABLE, then run back to the start. The foam was
much needed for some of the more unhygienic participants,
with each of the ‘Goblins’ not hesitating to get stuck into it. A
lot of team members felt necessary to use the soap and water
to do a victory slide. But again, unfortunately other teams
used certain advantages against us to win.
We didn’t make it into the finals, however, we all had a great
day and the opportunity would not bit missed should it arise
again. A lot of the team stayed to enjoy the other activities
that JHQ had to offer that day and Sig Revell went off to
attempt to impress the ladies. Shock!
21st SIGNAL REGIMENT (AIR SUPPORT)
COLERNE
REAR OPS GROUP
GR20 - by Sig. Brain
The Rear Ops Group of the Regt is now well and truly bedded
in. Far from having a quiet time of it, with about 300 soldiers
on the rear strength (including 244 Sig Sqn), the Regt is
functioning at above normal jogging. Since deployment of
the CSR the rear elements have been involved in Armed
Forces Day and a parade at Colerne village, 2 high profile visits
and a high pace of exercises, both in the UK and abroad for
244. Normal daily life is based on providing support required
for the deployed element, the MT working particularly hard
with R&R pick ups. High priority is ensuring all reserves are
current in MATTs and special to arm training and are ready to
roll out to Theatre should they be required. Another key area
is ensuring the families of those deployed are well looked
after, the UWO has been working hard providing trips out and
families Sunday lunches in the WO and Sgts Mess, all of which
have been well received. The plan over the next few months
is to continue preparing for the homecoming and training of
the rear element. We will also conduct charity events,
compete in Lanyard Trophy, the Blandford 10 and other
sporting events where we can, whilst of course carrying on
with our primary task of supporting those on Ops.
After returning from their recent tour of Afghanistan, Alpha
Tp, 224 Sig Sqn are enjoying a relatively calm period and are
making full use of the opportunity for leave, courses and AT.
Led by the OC, Maj Jeffery, 5 members of the Tp embarked
on a trekking expedition in the Mediterranean island of
Corsica. The route is known as the ‘Grande Randonee 20’, or
simply ‘GR20’ and advertises itself as being the toughest in
Europe. It didn’t disappoint. We set off from the town of
Calenzana, and before starting we were already tired from a
restless night on the floor of a hostel kitchen. The first day
turned out to be one of the longest. Climbing almost the
height of Ben Nevis, walking for over 6 hours and with over
15kilos each, the 89km we still had ahead of us might as well
have been a million. Over the day, the baking sun turned to
thick fog and the lush green vegetation turned to forest and
eventually to rock. But the eventual sight of the refuge at 3 in
the afternoon was a welcome one. The showers were cold
and the tents already damp, but we were burning through
power bars and croissants at a rate of knots and the sausage/
lentil soup purred down our pipes like a Cadillac.
214 SIGNAL SQUADRON
REAR PARTY NOTES – by Sig Coupe
On 3 May 6 members of the rear party from 214 Sig Sqn (LCpl
Jolly, Sigs Coupe, Rakocevic, MaCeacheran, Pickard and
Wilson) arrived at JSCS Ashchurch to take over duties from 2
Sig Regt in a busy Bowman stores department on a 6 month
attachment. The 1st week we conducted the handover/
takeover, learning what our new jobs would involve and
getting to grips with vast work loads that were about to come
our way. After days Sig Wilson got the call saying he was to a
replacement for someone out in Afghanistan, his time at
Ashchurch was very short lived. Moral joined the Tp in the
form of LCpl Allsop (to the delight of Sig Pickard). After 2
months LCpl Allsop left to do her OPTAG training to deploy to
Afghanistan, 2 weeks after that LCpl Jolly left to start work at
DSDC Donnington. Since then Sig Dickens and Sig Finn have
joined the Tp to help with work the load. For the Armed
Forces Day Sig Pickard and I went down in to Tewksbury to
help raise money for the British Poppy Appeal. We took some
operational vehicles (a Panther and an RWMIK) to show the
public what we work with. The town were very pleased to
see us and were very welcoming.
11 SIGNAL BDE C-IED G4 TEAM (DONNINGTON DETACHMENT)
- by LCpl Harvey Jolly
The adventure began on 6th June 2011 in the magical camp of
Venning Barracks, home to the wonderful 11 Sig Bde. The elite
G4 crew consists of Sgt ‘Boz’ Boswell, Cpl Ted ‘TJ’ Just, Cpl
Chris Macdonald, LCpl Harvey Jolly, LCpl Williams, Sig Saynor
and Cfn Greenwood. We were tasked to provide G4 support
for 11 Sig Bde, which consists of 2 Sig Regt, 14 Sig Regt (EW),
16 Sig Regt and the USSO. Our main job is to store ICS
equipment and keep an account. This meant frequent trips to
Westdown Camp, Shrivenham, Blandford, Germany and
various other places to issue and receive ICS equipment. We
also have to provide transport for the personnel of 11 Sig Bde,
which means journeys to Brize Norton, Birmingham Airport
and other locations. Once we have finished our working day
we get to retire to the luxury of an 8 man room, which we will
be until November.
Day 2 presented more of the same challenges; only towards
the end of the 6 hour walk, the heavens opened and soaked
us thoroughly. As we reached the refuge and saw the sodden
tents waiting outside, morale was as low as it was going to
get. When, mercifully, we were afforded a bed inside the
refuge, then nothing could get us down. We sat around a
table and wolfed down our meals, observing a couple less
fortunate; who not only had to camp in the rain, but had also
lost their tent poles. In the morning LCpl Tom Daniel, the
‘mountain goat’, powered ahead with Sgt Stu McClusky, who
was using the whole experience as a final phase of training
before immediately beginning the UKSF selection process.
The rest of the group caught up when they rested and
observed the snowfield ahead of them, before the punishing
cold rain opened up once again. The disused ski-station and
the a la Carte restaurant where we rested for the next 2
nights was perfect to relieve the increasing onset of fatigue
within the group. Aside from a slight faux par when I ate
someone else’s starter in the restaurant, and the OC helped
herself to a bowl of someone else’s soup - the rest days were
fairly uneventful, but wholly beneficial.
The trek lasted 10 days in all and offered all kinds of weather
and terrain in every possible combination. An account of the
tour wouldn’t be complete without tipping a hat to day six’s
‘Cirque d’solitude’, GR20’s most famous leg. It’s one of the
longest days of the tour and one of the highest. The descent
in the bowl is steep, slippery and often narrow. Chains are
fixed to the walls of the canyon to aid the less experienced
but provide only limited help. A sharp descent and an
unforgiving ascent up the other side tested all. Those less
technically skilful were challenged and the ever-present fear
of overbalancing and falling sometimes got the better of
members such as Cpl Phil Perry. At the start of the trip the
forthcoming days seemed to yawn endlessly ahead, seeming
like it would take a lifetime to complete. But we took the
days as they came and reflecting on it, we’re not sure where
the time really went. The tents and refuges we stayed in
varied in calibre, and the same holds true for the food. Some
days were especially long or arduous, and others, less so.
The last day was one we were all dreading but looking
forward to, a descent of over a kilometre with the sun beating
down on the rocks like an anvil. SSgt Chris Cowely grew close
45
to using his issued trekking poles that had thus far been used
for anything but trekking and even Sgt McClusky, whose
rucksack could cripple a small horse, had doubts whether his
knees would need a grease nipple fitting come the end. In
the blink of an exhausted eye the trip was almost over. Time
enough to fill our baggage allowance with a few bottles of
Corsica’s finest, their mineral water is, after all, renowned.
244 SQUADRON A TROOP EX (JOCOMEX) 01/08/11 – 05/08/11
– by Sig Cabourn
The Tp joined up with the Navy on board HMS Portland as part
of a joint service exercise in order to prepare our kit for
further exercises that we will depart to in Morocco and
Kenya. As a new signaller I was lucky enough to take part on
the JOCOMEX, which meant I had the responsibility to provide
comms along with Sig Upson to my Tp back on the ground in
Colerne. I had just come through training so the opportunity
to do something like this could not be missed. Whilst on
board the ship we were welcomed on this first day by AB
Preston and PO Perry and throughout the week whilst sailing
around the Channel Islands we were constantly made to feel
welcome by all ranks. With this we had the opportunity to be
taken round the ship; we were shown around various places
varying from the engine bays to weapon demonstrations.
On the day of the 24 hour ex we succeeded in establishing
comms with our Tp call signs back at camp, which gave us the
chance to show some of the Navy personnel on board how to
use the Bowman equipment. It is safe to say the Navy do not
no how to operate a radio system whatsoever! Their comms
between each other just consisted of an email/phone call
every so often. I was glad to be given this chance to work
with personnel from another service as previously I had only
been in training units. I highly recommend this to anyone as it
was a great experience and I was made to feel welcome the
whole time on board HMS Portland.
qualification as BSAC Ocean Divers, and ready to begin with
the meat of the expedition, the leisure dives! For our first real
dive, Capt Grant Wallace and Mr Paul ‘Grump’ Rawlings took
us out on a Joint Service inflatable Rib. The ride was quiet
exhilarating, not only due to the fact we were achieving ‘air
time’ running up waves, but even before we left the shelter of
the quay our hearts were in our mouths watching Capt
Wallace ‘manoeuvre’ the rib. Our first dive was at a depth of
about 10m and generally lasted about 30min. Not much to
see but the most interesting thing I did see was a spider crab
that Sgt Mick Richardson heroically picked up, only to have to
shake it off his glove as the crafty crustacean nipped him! The
following dives slowly became deeper to our max depth of
20m and for increasingly longer durations as we became more
comfortable and slowed our breathing, that is except for Sig
Chris ‘Yarp’ Laidler who is a bona fide oxygen thief, sucking
his tin near empty in a fraction of the time as the rest of us.
We had some good dives from the rib until the engine was
contaminated with water. We are still not clear who’s fault
this was but as OIC, Capt Wallace took the blame for the
break down. Consequently, diving would have had to be from
and around the Quay only, and not terribly exciting. The
decision was taken hence to hire a hard boat for the day. It
seemed like a good idea at the time, but as we headed out to
a dive site, LCpl Nat Jameson, LCpl Katie Smith and Sig
Laidler took a turn for the worse suffering from sea sickness.
Were not sure if Sig Raz Brown was feeling queer as he spent
most of the journey asleep (his natural state by all accounts).
The highlight dive was diving off the Cilla, a purposely sunk
and placed ‘wreck’ for the entertainment of SCUBA divers.
The deck was full of sea life with lots to see, and with the aid
of a torch we were able to peer through port holes and doors
to look inside (there was no penetration as that’s dangerous).
EXERCISE TRANSARC NEPTUNE - by LCpl Jamison
At the start of August 9 intrepid soles from 244 Sig Sqn left
Azimghur Bks for Plymouth with the hope of achieving the
BSAC Ocean Diver Qualification. Saturday morning we arrived
ao the Bovisands training establishment where we were
shown around, given a safety brief and issued our menagerie
of dive equipment. As the week prior had seen us all
familiarise ourselves with the equipment in the Azimghur Bks
swimming pool, we were kitted up in no time, carried out our
dive buddy safety checks to ensure the kit worked as it should
and went straight in at the deep end!
The first few dives conducted were to re-visit the skills we had
learned in the pool, if anything else as a confidence check (Its
non too pleasing and quite disconcerting to loose your ability
to breathe, or to have the freezing British waters attack your
eye balls on losing your mask)! Once we had completed the
pre-requisite written theory exam and demonstrated we had
assimilated the taught skills, we were awarded the
We all managed 30 – 40 min at our max depth, so a sense of
achievement tied it with an interesting dive was a massive
bonus. A fantastic end to an awesome week. To end, a
massive thank you to Capt Wallace, Mr Paul Rawlings, Ms
Nick Crowhurst and Sig ‘Jonno’ Johnson for their time, effort
and instruction.
22nd SIGNAL REGIMENT
STAFFORD
CO
RSM
Lt Col S Nesmith
WO1 (RSM) R Midgley
EXERCISE BLADING DRAGON – by 2Lt Triddon
On 10 July the Regts summer AT expedition got underway to
France with the aim of completing 2 weeks of alpine water
kayaking. Nineteen soldiers went in all, with some of that
number being from 14 Sig Regt with a variety of ability
46
groups. The preceding months had seen a small group take
part in the Army Slalom Championships in west Wales but the
remainder had little to no experience in a Kayak. This was to
be the first big step by the Regt in establishing a kayaking
tradition after the purchase of 12 new kayaks this summer,
and a precursor to a structured progression scheme for
paddlers in order to gain further qualifications and
experience. After a cheeky 20 hour trip to the first camp site
at Saint Pierre de Boeuf, the group woke to a campsite
the training had kicked in and putting in on a river 50 meters
wide with umpteen capsize opportunities along the way
would be a test of everyone’s metal. And sure enough, under
a darkening sky that obscured the heights of the surrounding
mountains each member of the expedition put in and began
floating in a controlled fashion down the river. As we grew
accustomed to the rocking of our boats and where to position
ourselves to get the best response from it nature decided to
add spice to the occasion and hurled down rain as ferocious
as it could get without bruising.
They weren’t all going to get in
buzzing with activity as swarms of kayakers, canoeists, rafters
and hydrospeeders (a foam float that you, in the horizontal
position, hold to your front as you float down river)
descended upon the man made 2* course (the 2* indicating
that it is essentially for novices). To the untrained eye even
this novice and ultimately safe course was an imposing threat
to life and limb and the initial put in was tentatively made at
the bottom of the stream where the flow was flat and weak.
To keep the correct instructor-student ratio the group was
split into 3, one of which would be on the river with the other
2 practicing strokes, rolls and capsize drills on the lake. SSgt
Vickers led the lake work, practicing the groups throughout
the subsequent days so that when they came to the river they
would supposedly be more adept at staying afloat. The most
called on skill was the roll, though failing that (and almost
everyone did) the capsize drill would be utilised. To a man
everyone capsized numerous times during the expedition and
as the tutorials under the direction of SSgt (SSI) Craig moved
up the river into faster water, so the tally just kept increasing
for the professional ‘river bed inspectors’ such as Cpl Hall and
Sig Lech. Though capsizes won’t be mentioned later in the
article they were a constant contribution to morale with
minor calamitous consequences (they are very funny to those
above water) underpinning the remainder of the expedition.
The storm did pass and as the sun broke out the next morning
and the full spectacle of our campsite location in the Alps was
unveiled. Groups were split down into abilities and the
fantastically experienced civilian instructors that came to
accompany our latter week took us to various points on the
Durance and Guil rivers to guide us down. The outcome of
the weeks work was that all the group came away with an
Inland Kayaking Progression qualification and most added a
3* to that. The week was supplemented with various
activities such as a day rafting through the high sections of
the river Guil with magnificent drops through gorges and
rapids that would be out of our reach as kayakers, and a trip
to the local town of Guillestre for an evening meal and a taste
of alpine festivities. The trip was a success on many different
levels and our thanks go to SSgt Craig for organising it.
For many it was the first AT expedition they would have gone
on and to a location such as the Alps it undoubtedly wetted
the appetite for many more. For the Regt it has also meant
that a small group of people are qualified enough to take a 1*
Instructor course that will in itself perpetuate further
development within Sqns as they will be able to take
personnel onto lakes and teach the basics of kayaking.
Overall, 5 days were spent at St de Boeuf and by the end the
majority of the group had incrementally made its way to the
frothy mouth of the stream, successfully negotiating the
route past the rocks and rapids to reach the tepid waters at
the base that only a few days ago had been the scene of our
mild initial put in.
Crossed Swords
217 SIGNAL SQUADRON
OC
SSM
Maj S Jones
WO2 (SSM) Jones
COLLECTIVE TRAINING 2 – by Cpl Barker
Lovin’ every darn minute
From a small seed the group’s kayaking ability had grown
exponentially and confidence was buoyant as we made tracks
to our second camp site in the Hautes Alpes region. Our
confidence may have been misplaced however as the relative
security of the stream we had been training on was a polar
opposite to the fast flowing alpine rivers that were to be our
next challenge. As we stood on top of the bank holding in
the murky waters of the Durance that ran adjacent to our
campsite it became obvious that the ‘adventurous’ aspect of
On 20 June 2011 217 Sig Sqn deployed from Beacon Barracks
out to Swynnerton training area to carry out its annual CT2
training. Upon arrival we were greeted by the advance party
waiting for extra hands with setting up the FOB location for
the next 5 days. The exercise was split into 2 phases; learning
phase and exercise phase.
The Sqn was then split down into its troops/multiples and
given its order of lessons for the next 24 hours. The lessons
consisted of anti-ambush drills, section attacks, prisoner
handling and detainee, health and hygiene in the field, HLS
drills and counter IED drills. On completion of all the lessons
the multiple commanders then received their orders for phase
2 of the exercise which was to secure the FOB location and
restore peace of mind to the locals.
47
Multiple 3 were first out on the ground, carrying out recces
on 3 farm locations. Whilst out on the ground we were met
by 3 farmers dressed in some highly fashionable hessian dish
dashes. One of the farmers played by Sig Stuart had a very
convincing German accent but unfortunately the ex scenario
was for the Middle East. On completion of a very successful
recce we returned back to the FOB for some well deserved
scoff. Throughout the week each multiple was met with
different scenarios where they had to put previous lessons
into practice. Towards the end of the exercise each multiple
had their fair share of attacks, riots which consisted of cold
pizza and water thrown at them and plenty of sangar duties.
The ex was a great success and the 2IC was more than happy
with the standard of training delivered and put into practice.
EXERCISE HOPTON DEVELOPMENT – by Sig Newton
On 11 July, we met at Regtl MT fully kitted ready to deploy out
to 5 Site, where Ex HOPTON DEVELOPMENT would begin.
This meant a week full of PT, including PFA’s and PLDs
(Physical Leadership Development), presentations, CQB
(Close Quartership Battle), command tasks and map reading
practical. The main effort was to develop the leadership skills
of each individual, increasing confidence and use teamwork
throughout. Starting with ice breakers helped us to find out
each and everyone’s individual characteristics including the
seniors from the exercise. Individual presentations took place
in front of soldiers and also seniors on the ex, to help us all
gain experience and gain confidence in front of others. A
different topic was then handed out to each of the 3 sections
which were then to provide a 45 minute presentation and
deliver them in front of personalities such as the CO. CQB
was a great opportunity for us to gain experience of firing
pistols as well as rifles, as most had never done this before.
After putting all this into practices throughout the day it
became quite competitive for everyone. A shooting
competition was then held and this was won by Sig Plant for
a well deserved effort who received his award on the final
night. PT was great, learning new things such as PLD’s. This
involved each section working as a team and pulling together
through blood, sweat and tears. Doing everything from log
runs to stretcher races whilst collecting individual pieces of kit
from different areas of camp, ranging from tyres, ammo
boxes, casualties and even an 80kg stretcher.
A couple with pulling power
Going out into a place we were not familiar with and trying to
find our way around it with just maps and compasses turned
out surprisingly well, everyone taking control at different
points with the exception of Sig Shelly who decided to just
add another PT session into her day by sprinting up this hill
whilst being chased by a wasp, one minute she was there…
the next gone!! Finally making it to the top 1300 metres later,
we got to take in the view. The whole week overall was a
great experience, and the opportunity should be taken by
everyone if given the chance. Full of laughs and jokes,
practical’s, theory, BBQs and Skits…NOT forgetting The Tuck
Shop run all week by WO2 SSM Rowley in which he never let
us forget with his famous words TUCK SHOPS OPEN.
48
222 SIGNAL SQUADRON
OC
SSM
Maj O Dinnis
WO2 (SSM) Fraser
ADVENTURE TRAINING – by LCpl J Taylor
On Monday 9 May a group of 25 members of 222 Sqn set off
to Capel Curig for a week of adventure training. On arrival we
set off on an orienteering exercise to familiarise ourselves
with the area and the ground. We were set of with a map,
but had limited success as the map was so small! We were set
off at 5 minute intervals and within 25 minutes there was a
massive group of us in and around the area of check point
one. The check points were seriously hard to find as the
ground was all overgrown and near enough covering the
markers. Eventually we managed to complete about half of
the route before we ran out of time.
On Tuesday we were split down into 2 groups; half going hill
walking and the others going mountain biking. My group was
on mountain biking over a 19km route going across all
different terrains. Within the group there were different
levels of abilities and confidence, and were not always helped
by the quality of bike; some looked as though they we about
to fall apart. Throughout the day I think we only had 2 people
fall off, they were LCpl King who also decided to make it as
dramatic as possible by throwing himself in to the air and
landing just down a hill and landing in a hedge. The other was
Sig Kailash who face planted on the floor after coming down
a steep slope; he tried a jump at the bottom but hit it wrong
and smashed his helmet to pieces. Wednesday we then
switched over to the hill walking which felt more like
mountain climbing at times; the route took us straight up to
the peak of Mount Snowdon. This was more than vertical at
some points purely down to my poor route selection. On this
incline LCpl King was again moaning like a little girl and was
on his hands and knees at some point crawling up! Once
reaching the peak we stopped at the top for a brew and to
warm up, then headed straight back down following the path
and hand railing the train tracks for a short while.
Thursday was pretty much the final day and probably the best
for everyone. The groups stayed split down with half of us
doing raft building in the morning and the high ropes course
in the afternoon. When we rocked up to the raft building we
were all shocked when we were told we had to do an
orienteering exercise to earn points to actually buy the kit we
needed to make our rafts. My team built our raft and we
were more than surprised when it actually floated and we
won the raft race. In the afternoon we moved across to the
high ropes course which some people in my group were not
looking forward to, such as LCpl Sands and Sig Ellison. The
first station within the course was basically a massive swing
which winched you up about 30ft and just let you go. The
people who were worried went first and that was more than
enough for some. The other stands we did were the high
obstacle course, the leap of faith which SSgt (FofS) Sharman
felt he had to do for his own personal pride, although he was
visibly shaking as he climbed up. We finished with a zip wire
and that was pretty much the end of our Adventure Training
week, other than the BBQ we all had that night back on camp.
All in all it was a top week and every one enjoyed themselves.
RACE THE SUN – by Cpl Rabi and LCpl Wilbraham
On 25 May 11 a select group of “willing” volunteers set off
from Stafford to take part in the Race the Sun Competition.
This was the first time the Regt had taken part in the event so
pressure to perform was on us. The event is hosted by 2 Sig
Regt in York and the surrounding area and as the name
suggests comprises of a series of arduous events in a relay
format starting when the sun rises and aiming to finish before
the sun sets. On arrival at York we were shown to our
“accommodation” which in for all the teams was the station
gym. The competitors arrived and settled in whilst team
captain Lt Aldred received a brief on the next days activities.
At this point 22SR CO, Lt Col Nesmith, arrived and gave the
rest of the team a pep-talk. On Lt Aldred’s return he gave us
all the start times for the next day, which in inevitable would
slip. SSgt (SSI) Craig would kick off our team in the canoeing.
This involved a short run down to the river then competitors
would then paddle with all urgency upstream for 6km and tag
the next competitor. The start time was 0500hrs but in good
tradition competitors had to be there well before then (this
seemed to be a running theme throughout the day). On the
start gun it was clear that there were some whippets who got
down to the river in quick time. However this is where SSgt
Craig’s experience came to the fore, with other competitor’s
flailing to get into their canoes and struggling with a shallow
start he flew past the helpless whippets to a strong position.
Whilst the first leg competitors were raring to go, most of the
team were still in the gym counting the minutes and hours
until their appointed time. The day continued at pace and it
was becoming clear that some of the teams had a lot more
experience in the race than us. Cpl Rabi was apprehensive
about his leg after he found out he had a mountain bike for
bike orienteering, an event which turned out to be entirely on
the road! Whilst Cpl Rabi was navigating around the greater
York area, LCpl Wilbraham set off for the lake swim. It was
gleefully spotted by the 22SR team that the other competitors
were sporting Corps and Army triathlon wetsuits, which made
LCpl Wilbraham’s last minute acquisition of a rather oversized
“The Hoff” style number a bit inadequate. However he was
thankful in keeping to his guns of obtaining a suit for the day,
as Lt Aldred was asked in all honesty if “wetsuits, are they
really necessary” for an outdoor lake swim!
The weather was pretty horrendous at the lake, most of the
competitors for the leg assembling what could be best
described as penguin formation on the waters edge, plotting
there route through the 30m or so of bog leading to the lakes
edge. It was at this point with Lt Col Nesmith there to give
support in a ‘rather you than me’ kind of way. Much to
everyone’s disappointment the organisers came out and told
us that the leg had to be cancelled, apparently the lake was
too shallow for the rescue boat. The comment of “we’ll just
stand up if we have a problem” didn’t go down too well. The
conclusion of the event was the 3km stretcher race around
Imphal barracks. Our team consisted of Sgt Steel, Cpl
Mcloughlin, LCpl Dickinson, Sig Agar, Sig Attridge and the
newly acquired LCpl Wilbraham (fresh from the cancelled lake
swim). On the starting pistol Cpl Mcloughlin had to sprint a
500m circuit before the rest of the team could start. We had
a good start pushing our way to around 7th out of about 18
by 100m into the carry, but soon due to the previous events
we started to wane, with most of the teams having fresh
members. Although a long day and with some particularly
gruelling events, all competitors got a lot out of the event and
look forward to an even better performance next year.
SUPPORT SQUADRON
OC
SSM
Maj S Keilty MBE
WO2 (SSM) Whitworth
INTER SQUADRON DRILL COMPETITION – by Sgt Navin
It was 0745hrs in the morning of 14 Jun. Eighteen soldiers
were queuing up outside the armoury, all smart as a carrot
with their smart hair cuts, ironed uniform with razor sharp
sleeves, very clean berets on their heads and most of all
extremely shiny boots. These were the soldiers from Sp Sqn,
22 Sig Regt posing more like Royal Guards rather than
signallers, getting ready for the Inter Sqn Drill Competition as
a part of the CO’s Challenge. WO2 (SSM) Rowley ensured
that the soldiers were up to a high
standard for inspection prior to LCpl
Jatta marching off the squad with
their personnel weapons in the slope
arms position from the armoury to
222 Sig Sqn Hanger, near to the
Parade Square, the start place of the
drill competition. Simultaneously,
the drill instructor, Sgt McEwan, and
drill I/C, Sgt Navin, were making sure
that the squad got the appropriate
training as well as maximising
enthusiasm from individuals to their
best ability to win the competition.
As per the scheduled timings, Sp Sqn
drill squad stood at ease with anxiety
and their weapons in slope arms
position at 222 Sig Sqn Hanger under
command of squad captain LCpl
Jatta, awaiting for the call out from
the Drill Co-ordinator, SSgt (SQMS)
Drill competitors
Somras, as the judges, Maj Prentice
and WO1 (RSM) Midgley, got ready with their scoring cards
on the parade square. As soon as the team captain was
summoned, LCpl Jatta brought the squad to attention with
his loud and clear drill voice and marched the squad on to the
parade square. Very smart!, were the comments made by the
spectators among the small anxious crowd, including the
QM(A)’s dog to witness the event.
The event itself was divided into 4 phases; the inspection,
foot drill, weapon drill followed by marching off the square.
Each phase was to be conducted by anyone picked up within
the squad by the judge apart from the first phase where the
team captain leads the squad to the parade square for
inspection. In addition to that, the drill sequence was to be
learnt by each individuals from the squad comprised of 16
soldiers (Cpls and below). As soon as we had been inspected,
the RSM selected LCpl Binod to carry out the drill phase. He
never let the squad down, carrying out the foot drill smartly,
with confidence and with a loud and correct sequence. The
next selected were LCpls Beamond and Dyson for the next 2
phases, weapon drill and the march off respectively. Equally
from the squad personnel, the enthusiasm, effort and the
mind set for what was coming next could be witnessed from
the distant crowds outside the square. Loud applause was
given from the crowd as LCpl Dyson marched the squad from
the square. The result was announced later on in the day by
the CO. Although Sp Sqn may not have successfully won the
event, the discipline, team spirit, confidence and effort were
witnessed by all. Also, with only 6hrs of rehearsal for Sp Sqn;
this was certainly a big achievement and success!
EXERCISE LION SPANNER 2011 – by Cpl Chadwick
One Friday morning, the Tiff (SSgt Jacobs) said to the LAD
“who wants to go away for 3 weeks on Ex LION SPANNER”, a
TA led exercise in sunny Cyprus. Needless to say, everyone
put their hands up however only a select few were chosen.
The lucky few were Cpl Chadwick, Cpl Shaw, Cpl Goodall, LCpl
Davis, Cfn Dunn, Cfn Whitfield and Cfn Rossi. We flew from
RAF Lyneham in a Hercules on an 8 hour flight (delayed 24
hours) to arrive at RAF Akrotiri late at night on the Friday.
The first weekend was spent taking in the local culture (and
nightlife) in Limassol before we started our first week at
work. When we arrived at work at 0645 on the Monday Cpl
Goodall and Cfn Whitfield were sent to Episkopi to work with
Sgt Salis, to be greeted by 28 Penman trailers that required
MOD 1 (overdue since January…treat yourself).
Cpl Shaw went to the metalsmiths bay where in 3 weeks he
made 3 chairs, a BBQ (used many a time) and watched
highlights of the U21 European Championships. The rest
worked with the TA in the main LAD doing the same job as we
49
do at barracks back in Stafford. The Regulars went to the
jobs at hand at a normal pace and cleared 8 vehicles in 2 days
whilst the rest of the LAD set about clearing 1 vehicle in 2
days. We were then told to slow things down because after
all we were on ‘Cyprus time’, something we would all have to
get used to! The next few weeks were spent working
summer hours with a bit (lot) of R&R on Ladys’ Mile and at
the weekends going and taking in the local culture in places
like ‘THE TRIANGLE’ in Ayia Napa and Pafos. We even had
chance to do a bit of sea fishing where after 4 hours of
trawling for tuna the only thing we caught was sunburn. The
permanent staff in Cyprus organised a fun day out were we
took part in paintballing, a jeep safari, archery and go kart
drifting. On the whole the 3 weeks was a good insight into
the working and social life when based in Cyprus and I would
recommend it to all. We learnt a lot about each other and
how the TA operate, and our time out in Cyprus emphasised
the well know REME moto ‘Work hard, play harder’.
248 GHURKA SIGNAL SQUADRON
OC
SSM
Maj D Farragher
WO2 (SSM) Dev
EXERCISE NOVEMBER DRAGON 2011 – by Sig Arjun Gurung
Ex NOVEMBER DRAGON was a Tp level AT ex conducted from
6 – 8 Jun on the Skiddaw Mountain and in the Guisburn
Forest. The main aim was to develop the group’s teamwork,
leadership, map reading and personal fitness. The weather
was sunny as we headed towards the Halton training camp in
Lancaster. It was almost a 2 hour drive before we took over
the block and sorted out bedding. Afterwards, with a bit of
free time on our hands, we decided to fill the afternoon with
a game of football. It was an early start on the second day.
We headed towards the Lake District to climb Skiddaw
Mountain. With a summit at 931m above sea level it is the
fourth highest mountain in England. We set off from a car
park with 3 hours of long walk ahead of us. As we climbed up
the hill the weather was not very supportive and soon it
started pouring down. Although the weather was
unfavourable, we managed to reach the summit in about an
hour and a half. By that time the mist and fog had closed in,
so we missed the opportunity to see the panoramic view of
the Lake District. As we reached the base the inevitable
happened and the weather cleared and became nice again.
We took the opportunity to take a few pictures and we
headed on. Afterwards, we went back to the camp and a
barbeque was organised for dinner. We had a great meal but
we couldn’t stop thinking about going to bed.
the slopes were almost vertical. We were shooting through
the wood, racing our bikes down Hully Gully, rushing down
the smooth downhill and braking through the narrow routes.
After nearly 3 hours of biking our journey came to an end. By
that time we were totally exhausted and so set off and made
our way back to Stafford. Ex NOVEMBER DRAGON was an
extremely successful and rewarding experience for all. We
are very thankful to LCpl Raj Gurung for organising such an
enjoyable event.
252 (HONG KONG) SIGNAL SQUADRON
OC:
SSM:
Maj G Lewendon
WO2 (SSM) D Owen
REGIMENTAL TUG OF WAR/FUN DAY – by LCpl Derby
On 6 July, 252 Sig Sqn travelled up to Stafford from Imjin
Barracks to compete with the rest of the Regt for the finale of
the CO’s Cup Competition. The main event of the day was the
Tug-of-War competition, an event in which we had trained for
a little over a week before hand, most of which against a tree
on a little patch of grass by the station gym. Despite this, the
team put in a valiant effort, coming 2nd in the league and
securing a place in the final against 222 Sig Sqn.
Before the final took place, the Sqn had to complete the
themed chariot race. We had decided to go for a beach
theme, which entailed a chariot held together with some
dodgy welding and black nasty. The in-chariot entertainment
system was supplied by toys from McDonalds happy meals.
Along the way we faced water balloons, water pistols and
several near-crashes. Despite our best efforts we were no
match for the Ninja-mobile or the Wild West Wagon. Then
came the final of the Tug-of-War. 252 vs 217. A brilliant effort
was put in by both sides, with 217 winning the first leg. Just
as it seemed 252 were about to pull back the lead, 217 found a
second wind to beat us 2-0 overall. After a round of Hoorahs,
the Regt relaxed in the sun with a BBQ, beer, ice cream and
cricket. A welcome break from our normal commitments,
enjoyed by all.
On the last day we set off for some mountain biking towards
the Guisburn Forest. After an hour and a half of driving we
could see the forest. We hired our bikes and jumped on.
After checking the brakes and gears we were off, mostly on
the red trails and occasionally attempting the black as well.
Most of us had to get off the bikes as soon as we hit black as
Pulling like a Trooper
BRAMCOTE
CO
RSM
Lt Col R J Watts MBE
WO1 (RSM) L Tosh
SUPPORT SQUADRON
OC
SSM
50
Maj P Griffiths
WO2 (SSM) A Setchfield
BRAMCOTE STATION OPEN DAY 2011
– by WO2(SSM) Setchfield
As Sp Sqn SSM I feel that it should be my task to let the Corps
know the scale of the ‘Bramcote Station Open Day’. I took up
the post of Sp Sqn Sergeant Major at the end of November
2010 and on my hand over I was told about the Open Day by
my predecessor and that it was the main effort other than
current Ops in the Regt. It couldn’t really be that much of a
drama to sort out! How wrong was I. I started looking
through the hand over notes which were left for me around
January 2011 (its surprising what you can squeeze in to an A4
paper box!) I started making some calls and realised that if
you wanted any military displays, January of the year you
wanted them was not the time to ask, most displays need to
be booked the year prior to you wanting them.
I started to
panic slightly
as nothing had
been booked
prior to me
arriving. So it
was time to
think outside
of the army
bubble and
get some
civilian
equivalents for
the main arena
displays, so
who could offer what the ‘White Helmets’ do, the ‘Imps’. The
‘Imps’ display was amazing. They had travelled through the
night from Scotland and didn’t arrive until 0200hrs. I put
them in to a mid afternoon slot in the arena so they could get
some sleep. A lot of the public could not believe how good
they were and I would like to say thanks to ‘Roy’ and the
team once again. So that was the military motorcycle display
sorted but I wanted to ensure that we would get as many of
the public to attend as possible so I thought what else would
everyone be able to relate to, maybe a Battle of Britain Fly
past to open the day and some freestyle motto cross riders?
Four passes over the arena with a ‘Spitfire’ and a ‘Hurricane’
really got the crowd going so it was over to the Mayor of
Nuneaton to open the main arena. As soon as that was done
it was over to ‘UK FMX Moto X’
around 15,000. The glorious weather had fetched people out
in their droves which lead to tail backs on the M1, M69 and all
the way in to Nuneaton!! The gates were closed at 1320hrs as
we could not get anyone else in to the event, so if you want
to attend next year come early as the gates were opened an
hour before the 1000hrs start and we had a continuous flow
of cars through until the gates
shut. That just shows how
popular this event is.
On the day nothing runs itself so
it was down to a few key people
ensuring everyone else had a
great day, Maj Griffiths,
co-ordinating everything from car
parking to portaloos. Sgt Toby
Griffiths our med Sgt running the
arena, SSgt Danny Bromage
sorting out the media and SSgt
Richie Sheard IC everything else!!
At the end of the day the event
was closed with a spectacular
free fall parachute display by the
RLC ‘Silver Stars’, a fantastic way to close the event.
At the last count we
had raised in the region
of £25,000 for military
and local charities
which far surpassed the
estimate at the start of
the planning process.
As Sp Sqn SSM you
have the joy of planning
and running this event
but don’t worry if I’m
not here next year, I
have already booked
your main attractions
and all you’ll need to do is put it together, enjoy.
UNIT WELFARE AND COMMUNITY DEPARTMENT
– by Capt (UWO) Dougie Icke
I don’t think anyone realised how spectacular these guys
were, a few jumps maybe but the skill, athleticism and
commitment they put in to the display was second to none.
They performed more shows than they were contracted to do
as they were enjoying themselves so much due to the huge
crowds and the feedback they were getting. Everyone
commented on how well the event was set up and that is
down to SSgt Sheard who spent nearly 2 weeks with his team
of men building the site. A lot of the stall holders and vendors
said it was the best open day the Regt had ever done. There
was over 45 stands and stalls set up around the ‘wind break’
not including the military stands run by Sp, 250, 256 and 258
Sqns; paintball ranges, archery, clay pigeon shooting, mini
assault course, weapons stands, military vehicle displays, beat
the keeper, the stocks and a RLC catering competition.
Other major attractions included a huge inflatable bouncy
castle complex, water balls, off road driving and helicopter
rides. There was so much going on it was hard to estimate
how many people had turned up but it was believed to be
The welfare department has seen some new faces recently.
Capt Ken Smith has abandoned ship to take up post as MTO
at 14 (EW) SR, we wish him the very best in his new post.
Newly arrived from Birmingham UOTC is the new UWO – Capt
Dougie Icke. Sgt Stacy Fayers has been drafted into the team
from the QM Dept and has been busy making herself known
to the community. Whilst organising community events and
writing newsletters, she still finds time to represent the Army
at swimming, play sports for the Regt and train for Trailwalker
UK and the Lanyard Trophy. We are also lucky to have LCpl
Margaret Dzikiti join the team from SE Tp. As well as
establishing herself as the welfare JNCO, she is successfully
managing the PRI ‘project’, that has prompted the UWO to
recommend her for New Years ‘The Apprentice’. She also
finds time to represent the Regt at sports and is training for
The Lanyard Trophy. In addition to our new members, we
have the experienced ‘old hands’ of SSgt Hari Ghale and Cpl
Neil Dickinson (258 Sig Sqn). Whilst Hari is counting down
the days till resettlement leave and the start of his posting to
‘Civvy Street’, he continues to maintain the highest
professional standards and offers excellent advice in all
situations – he will be a hard act to follow for his successor
who arrives from 22 Sig Regt in September. Cpl Dickinson has
breathed a sigh of relief as the last of 258 Sig Sqn return
safely from Afghanistan, and to celebrate is now on a ‘football
referees’ course which will come in handy at the Youth Club.
Our Gurkha Support Worker, Shova Gurung, is as friendly and
professional as ever, and is busy teaching the UWO Nepalese,
which takes a lot of patience. There is currently a buzz of
51
enthusiasm and activity in the Unit Welfare & Community
Department which hopefully will ensure a professional and
efficient service to our families and soldiers is maintained –
something that we are extremely committed to.
through various stands and return back to their Platoon safe
house on foot covering a distance of 10 -15km each day. This
proved to be more difficult than previously thought with
some call signs spending 2 hours lost in the same grid square!
COARSE FISHING TEAM NEWS – by Sgt ‘Ginge’ Davies
The final phase saw students complete a 60km evade through
various checkpoints with very little food and equipment.
Everyone who took part performed well, however there were
some individuals who had an outstanding performance. LCpl
Shankar led from the start and kept all his section/platoon
motivated right to the very end. This earned him top field
soldier accolade, well deserved. Additionally there were some
standout performances by Pte Fletcher (AGC) and LCpl
Chirton who, despite getting geographically embarrassed and
carrying injuries, never stopped smiling and encouraging
everyone else in the section. Another mention goes to Sig
Fullagar who received the accolade of top Signaller who
displayed the maturity of a well seasoned soldier.
The Regt has once again had a strong showing at the AAF Gp
4 qualifiers. Consistently entering 2 strong teams has led to
some great results with someone always among the points.
We have also benefitted by the signing of angling superstar
and the new one to beat SSgt ‘Rocky’ Rock. The qualifying
match in June was conveniently held at the same location as
the Corp Championships. This saw 3 members spend 3 days
solid fishing at Heronbrook fishery, including 3 nights in the
luxury accommodation at Swynerton Training Camp.
Day 1 did not go as planned and after a poor draw the day got
worse. With very few fish in the net SSgt Jim Fisher stepped
back out of his old mans fishing “arm chair” and onto his
pole, being a slightly built chap the pole stood no chance. I
was lucky not to cause any damage myself as I fell off my box
laughing. The words that came out of his mouth are
unprintable. He, however, had the last laugh of the day as his
catch weighed over double mine. The day belonged to LCpl
Greg Welsby though, fishing his first match for the Regt
having just been posted in from his Phase 2 training, was
among the prizes collecting some valuable team points and a
little pocket money for himself. Day 2 and 3 were The Corps
Championships and again the draw was not to kind to us but
“Team Cockle” made the most of it and managed to hold
their own. The internal battle between the 3 of us was won
by just a few ounces by LCpl Greg Welsby, who was again
among the prizes on the final day (maybe a little ill advised
though to pip your FofS IS in your first week in the Regt).
The Championship was won overall by Sgt ‘Pez’ Perry who
just pipped Martin Cullip on a count back. Both anglers
fished extremely well over the 2 days. The hard work has paid
off and the team now look forward to representing the Regt
at the Army Finals in September. Anyone interested in coarse
fishing within in Corps should contact Sgt Ben Bentley at 11
(RSS) Sig Regt on 943713975.
TRAINING WING
OC
SSI
Capt A Nicholls
SSgt D Knowler
The last 3 months has seen the Wing run numerous
distributed training courses as well as introduce a new JNCO
development course. Further to this they have participated
and run several initiatives that have seen them raise in excess
of £15000 for local and national Charities.
EXERCISE SWAN CONNECTION 1, 2 – 16 JUN 11
Ex SWAN CONNECTION was a Regtl JNCO Leadership and
development camp which was conducted on Salisbury Plain
Training Area (SPTA) over the period 06 – 18 Jun 11. The Brain
Child of the CO, Lt Col Watts MBE, the Trg Wg were tasked
with designing a training camp that would see the JNCO’s
developed in an arduous environment whilst developing both
their skills and drills. A 3 phase exercise was delivered where
soldiers were taught, tested and finally evaluated. Phase one
was tuition of all topics needed to succeed, phase 2
incorporated numerous stands covering a wide area of SPTA
and phase 3 – SWAN ESCAPADE, would be based on an
extraction scenario. As the exercise progressed so did the
intensity and training. Each stand had to introduce different
scenarios and elements to test the section commanders in
their decision making and leadership skills in a progressive
manner. To increase pressure, each section had to pass
52
In summary Ex SWAN CONNECTION was a successful 30SR
exercise that will be run again next year. Without exception
all the participants worked extremely hard and can be
justifiably proud of their achievements.
WAAT 4 CHALLENGE 18 JUN 11
The WAAT 4 Challenge is 40KM race over the Brecon Beacons
in aid of the Welsh Air Ambulance as well as Blue Light
Services. The team of 4, led by Capt Tony Nicholls, were
aiming for a top 10 finish after previous success in 2009. From
the start Sgt Gopal took the role of navigator leaving route
selection and ‘pace management’ to the OC. Looking good at
the halfway point the team were competing for a podium
before summiting Pen-Y-Fan for the second time. After what
was a valiant effort by Capt Pete (rickets) Asplen (ISS) and
some strong support by Cpl Shyam the team eventually
finished in just under 7 hours in fourth place overall. Both Sgt
Gopal and the OC are adamant that they will return next year
to compete for the win!
EXERCISE SWAN PEDELLO, 2 – 8 Jul 11
Ex SWAN PEDALLO, the brain child of Sgt Chris Loynes and
SSgt Marty Cope, was a speed cycle exercise from Lands End
to John O’Groats. The task would see an 8 man relay team
attempt to complete the 932 mile chosen route within 72
hours. Cycling for charity, the 2 main benefactors were ‘Help
for Heroes’ and Caterinas Children’s Ward, Nuneaton, with an
expectation to raise £4000. After some consultation it was
decided that the best course of action to raise awareness of
the Ex, was to set six 10 hour cycling challenges outside large
local supermarkets. To their credit, the local community of
Nuneaton and Hinckley were unbelievably generous towards
our cause and we collected a total close to £9500.
The event started on the morning of 4 June with the early
pace being set by Sgt Loynes at around 20 miles in the hour.
This would set the tone for the rest of the Ex with each cyclist
trying to better the distance covered in the first leg. With
‘competitive dad’ now firmly in place the team soon realised
that the opportunity to break the record already set by a 30
Sig Regt Team in a time of 50 hours was achievable.
30 hours into the
cycle the team had
started to fall
behind. Part of this
was attributed to
the geographically
challenged navigator
(Sgt Taff Pike RLC)
and his lack of
understanding of
the highway code – (no we can’t cycle on the M5 even if it is
only 2 miles) and secondly as Cpl Keith Evens struggled to get
his iron horse over some significant speed bumps en-route to
Bristol. Needing to pick up the pace WO1 (RSM) Liam Tosh
and SSgt Marty Cope both covered close to 25 miles in the
next 2 hours giving the team the boost they needed, brining
them back on track. This was followed up with a massive
effort by Sgt Lee Greenhough who could be depended on for
an above average distance throughout. The closing stages of
the ride built excitement for all as the prospect of finishing
the event spurred us on. The route card had indicated that
the last few hours of the event would be relatively flat,
however, how wrong were we. Capt Tony Nicholls ended up
with a 7.6 miles uphill in the middle of his last stint and Sgt
Marty Cowan had a cliff of 13% to climb. Aren’t you supposed
to travel downhill to sea level? With excellent efforts from
the whole team and their support crews WO2 (YofS) Jimmy
Samuel brought the team home in 49 hours 40 mins.
EXERCISE TRAILWALKER 15 – 18 Jul 11
This year saw 30 Sig Regt enter 4 teams in to the South Down
Ways event. The weekends activities started with a night in
the garages at Thorny Island before a 0400 breakfast that
was prepared by the support teams, greatly appreciated by
all! After this the teams headed off for the 0600 mass early
morning start. The 30 Sig Regt Team A of WO1(RSM) Tosh,
Sgt Gopal, Cpl Ratna and Cpl Shyam were leading the charge
and maintained pace with the event leaders until Cpl Ratna,
who was suffering from extreme cramps, was forced to retire
after 60km. Despite this and with a huge effort the team
managed to regain much of their lost ground and finished the
event in a staggering 12hrs 12 mins.
Next was the aptly named B Team with WO2(RQMS) Nim,
SSgt Smith and Sig Tej who were joined by Capt Nicholls on
the eve before. The teams aim was to break the 14 hour mark
and set off in ambitious style. Having maintained pace with
the leaders until the 60km mark (6hrs 30min), their late joiner
started to struggle with the pace. To the rest of the teams
credit they kept him with them until the last 2km where they
made a dip for the line at 13 hours 36 minutes and Capt
Nicholls eventually finished to give the team a time of 14
hours 6 Mins and 10th place overall.
Next were the veterans team lead by 2IC Regt, Maj Kennedy,
with the QM, Maj Cauldwell and Capt Barker and Cpl
Mekhman. This was the first of the steady teams who, along
with the ladies team, had a goal to complete in under 20
hours. The group started well and were making great time
and passing through the half way point at 8 hours. However,
it appeared that Capt Barker had collected some unwanted
sand during this period and was starting to struggle. This
eventually would prove to be terminal for his event and
despite a gallant effort he retired at CP9. The team, now
recharged, aimed to try and pass the ladies team of Capt
Curtis, Capt Burdus, Sgt Fayers and Cpl Rimmer before the
end. Although the Ladies team had been ahead of the Vets
for the whole race they were facing their own issues as Cpl
Rimmer was suffering heavily with internal bruising to her
legs. To her and the teams credit they went on to cross the
line together and finish in an excellent time of 19 hours and 53
minutes, but not before they were passed by the Vets!
Overall everyone concurred at what an excellent experience
and event it had been. A huge thank you must go to the
support teams, without whom completion would have been
impossible. Despite non-stop persistent heavy rain and strong
winds they were always smiling and had a knack of giving all
the runners exactly what they needed exactly when they
need it. I think you should get medals next year!
250 GURKHA SIGNAL SQUADRON
OC SSM
Maj P C Wettenhall
WO2 (SSM) U B Thapa
OP ELLAMY, BENGHAZI - by Cpl Kiran Ale
In April 2011, 2 personnel from 250 Gurkha Sig Sqn were called
out to deploy on Op ELLAMY in Libya. They were the
members of Operation Liaison and Reconnaissance Team
(OLRT), a part of the deployable element of PJHQ, ready to
deploy anywhere in the world at very short notice. They were
deployed with the British Mentoring Team (BMT) in order to
provide CIS support and maintain the vital secure comms link
back to the UK for the BMT staff officers to provide support
and advice to the National Transitional Council (NTC) in Libya.
The BMT, along with a French mentoring team were flown to
Benghazi, which is a rebel stronghold in the east of Libya, on
21 April. The deployed teams were received by both Defence
Attaché and the NTC members. Soon after arrival the team
set up its ops room. The 250 GSS detachment provided
secure data and voice capabilities. Facilities such as VTC,
TacSat and internet were also provided to the staff officers.
Libya has been very volatile and unsafe place since the events
of uprising was begun. Apart from the risk of being overrun
by government forces fighting against the rebels in the
Ajdabiya-Brega border, other threats in Benghazi come from
snipers in the government forces, V-IED, random and
celebratory fire ricochet and being targeted by progovernment loyalists. However, the team worked
energetically and welcoming NTC members closely. Although
it was an operation, time was found for few games of football
between the rebels and the team. This helped socialise and
know them better. Although the team slept on camp cots,
entertainment facilities such as satellite TV, table tennis,
magazines and some gym equipment were either salvaged
locally or ordered from the UK. The team was honoured by a
visit from the CJO AM Sir Stuart Peach KCB CBE in June. A
trip was also organised to the Benghazi Freedom Square and
the Benghazi War Cemetery in which are laid some hundreds
of fallen heroes from the British Empire, along with some
Gurkhas of the British Indian Army, during the WW2 North
African campaign.
The BMT has since been mentoring the NTC in matters such as
improving military organisation, communication and logistics
including how to handle humanitarian and medical assistance.
And the detachment from 250 GSS has been playing a key role
in providing and maintaining CIS facilities for the BMT staff
officers in order to support this operation.
EXERCISE MASAI MERCURY- KENYA JUN 2011
- by Sig Puspa Gurung
Being on JTFHQ role, Victor Tp has been busy from the start
of 2011, deploying on Op KIRKDALE to Kenya in Feb 11 and Op
ELLAMY to Italy in Mar 11. We were ready for yet another
challenge – Ex MASAI MERCURY 11 to Kenya in Jun.
53
was met within the given timeframe. By the morning of the
6th all services were up and working except few application
issues on RD 13 JOCS. We managed to commission a new
service, PJHQ.COM for the first time via BBiaB.
Fallen Gurkhas in the Benghazi War Cemetery
Commander Joint Forces Operation (CJFO), Brig Felton’s main
aim was to practice the small scale HQ (-)and prove our ability
to operate at strategic reach
in an austere environment.
The exercise personnel
comprised of 30 enablers
including Pioneers and a
Medical Officer and 35 Staff
Officers. All Victor Tp
personnel led by Capt
Lokbahadur Gurung along
with OPSO Capt Sillito and
YofS Coope left Bracmcote
on 1 Jun for RAF Lyneham.
We flew to Cyprus on a
Hercules C130 before
stopping at Akritori for an
overnight stay and made it
to Nairobi Kenya the next
day. All exercise personnel
excluding the Staff Officers
reached British Army Training
Freedom Square, Benghazi with
Unit Kenya (BATUK) at
pictures of martyrs and the new
2200L. A quick RSOI was
Libyan flag
given by the RQMS about the
Camp and exercise location. On 4 Jun we set off early from
BATUK and reached the exercise location by 1600L. We
discovered that the exercise location was surrounded by
Masai villages and to our surprise the Kenyan Rapid
Deployment Capability (KRDC) HQ was already in place.
We started unloading all the Interim Staff Working
Environment (ISWE) kits off the loaders and started building
the tents while the Pioneers started fencing the area with
barbed wire. By 1100 hrs on the 5th all the HQ infrastructure
less the Comms were established. Within 20 minutes of
unloading the comms kits, we began setting up Skylark and
Base Band in a Box (BBiaB). By that time the Staff Officers
had arrived and we were under heavy pressure and a sense of
urgency was necessary. The insecure phones started working
within an hour but we couldn’t progress the Red BBiaB
because of a point to point synchronisation problem.
Technical team including FRT SNCO Sgt Pham worked
overnight to ensure that the Full Operational Capability (FOC)
On the 8th some of us got a chance to visit KRDC HQ. To our
surprise we found that the Kenyan forces still use Clansman
Radios and Euromux as their comms systems. During the ex
we also got a chance to visit the Masai village near our ex
location. It was a fascinating experience to see the Masai
tribe in their traditional costumes. On the 10th, which was the
last day of the exercise, Lt Gen Julius W Karangi ‘MGH’ CBS’
‘NDC’ ‘PSC’(K), the Commander of KRDC paid a visit to our
HQ. He was pretty impressed with the comms equipment
that we had used and also praised about the Gurkhas.
Endex was called out at around 1730 hrs on the 10th and our
comms systems were all down by 1800hr. The next day, turn
round of the exercise was carried out. Everything was packed
up and loaded into the vehicles. We left the ex location on
the 12th to BATUK. Some of us had to stay longer in BATUK
due to flight delays but in the end all exercise personnel were
back to UK by the 18th. Ex MASAI MERCURY 11 was very
successful, where we achieved a lot, proving ourselves that
we could work in an austere environment and still give in the
services needed for the smooth running of the JTFHQ. REGIMENTAL GOLF DAY – by LCpl Rohit Gurung
After strings of uncertainty and last minute time changing
emails, the Regtl Golf Day was finally organised on 8 July 2011
under the guidance of the Regtl Golf 2IC, SSgt Suresh Gurung.
A total of 15 golf enthusiasts from the Regt took an early drive
to Ansty Golf Center, Coventry to get warmed up and ready
for the day ahead. On arrival, a quick brief was given by SSgt
Suresh on the rules of the competition. It would be played
out as an 18 hole Stableford competitions. With score cards in
hand we were distributed into groups of 4 and queued up at
Holes 1 and 10 to the Tee off. At 0815 hrs the competition
began. Dark clouds were lurking behind us since early
morning which eventually gave way to light rain followed by
frequent thundery downpours. Braving the weather with
waterproofs and umbrellas in hand, we forced our way across
the course taking every opportunity to get a good score.
After the first 9 holes to everyone’s delight, bacon rolls and
coffee were served in the club house energising us for
another 9 holes that lay ahead.
By the time the second half of the competition started, rays
of sunshine slowly began to creep out of the sky warming up
the players. Once again we queued up at our respective tees
in a hurry to enjoy every bit of sunshine available. After
playing a long and tense 2 ½ hours of back 9 holes we once
again made our way to the club house to be greeted by a
delicious finger buffet. Here, the score cards were handed in
to the OIC and everyone eagerly awaited the results. Capt
Purna was the winner of the day followed closely by Sgt
Robin and Sgt Sanjeev. Prizes were also given out for the
Longest Drive and Nearest the Pin where all winners took
away an expensive crystal-look-alike trophy. A quick group
photograph and a few thank you’s later, the competition
ended and everyone made their way back to camp. The Regtl
Golf Competition turned out to be a very successful and
enjoyable day. The Golfing Society still remains large in 30 Sig
Regt and all golfers will definitely be eyeing for the winner’s
medal when the next competition comes around.
EXERCISE TRAILWALKER UK 2011 - by Sgt Sanjeev Rai
Ex TRAILWALKER UK is the single biggest fund raising event
conducted by Queen’s Gurkha Signals (QGS) for the Gurkha
Welfare Trust (GWT) and Oxfam UK. It is a 100km challenge
initially envisaged as a training exercise, testing fitness,
54
teamwork and communication in Hong Kong by the QGS in
1981 but was quickly adapted to raise funds for the GWT.
After the move of the Brigade of Gurkhas to the UK, QG
Signals established Trailwalker UK in 1997. Its unique nature
attracts old, young, able, less able, civilians and soldiers, who
together raise over a million pounds each year. Since its
establishment in the UK, 250 Gurkha Sig Sqn takes the
responsibility to organise the event; where a 4 person team
takes a challenge to complete the full distance of 100 km
along the South Downs Way, starting at the Queen Elizabeth
Country Park in Petersfield and finishing at the Race Course in
Brighton. Since QGS invited Oxfam GB in partnership in 2002,
the event has grown bigger every year. This is the only ex
where all QGS Sqns and independent personnel from all Sig
Regts take part in various aspects alongside civilian volunteers
of Oxfam GB. After the long and thoughtful planning and
preparation, the 30th TRAILWALKER UK was conducted over
the weekend of 16/17 Jul 2011. With the event being very
prominent in the public eye, high standards of discipline and
turnout was demonstrated which maintained the QGS and
British Army’s name throughout the fund raising event.
From the Friday prior to the start of the event, the Start Point
was a hive of activity with competitors registering and
sampling the spectacular Gurkha cuisine available, and
generally taking in the atmosphere prior to the event. 248
GSS was responsible for providing food, beverages,
administration and site security for all competitors and their
supporters until they crossed the Start Point. With overcast
weather forecast and glittering rain the first lot of running
groups (The Elite Groups) started the race at 0600hrs;
amongst them was the defending champion ‘QGS A’ team and
so many other serious runners who wanted to snatch that
prestigious title. The Col of the Regt, Maj Gen NAW Pope CBE
started the race. It was an amazing experience, hundreds of
competitors rushing to get pass slow starters, the cheering of
the crowd and the stirring bag pipe’s tune as they were
crossing the start line; unfortunately 249 out of 2800 runners
didn’t complete the race this year.
Responsibility was spread between the Sqns to ensure the
start point, the 10 checkpoints and the finish point were
operating at the highest standard. As the lead Sqn, 250 GSS
also had the challenging finish point to operate.
Overall Ex TRAILWALKER UK 2011 was a tremendous success.
Thank you to the Race Control Team, all check point
commanders and SQMSs for the effective administration and
fantastic hospitality. Many thanks to all QGS members,
attached Gurkha SPS, Queen’s Gurkha Engineers and Queen’s
Own Gurkha Logistic Regt for producing another successful
Trailwalker. Humongous thanks goes to all competitors for
taking part and making Ex TRAILWALKER UK the huge
success it was; all in the spirit of charity.
E&E exercise, patrolling over 60Km with enemy forces
tracking us down as we manoeuvred from point to point. In
addition to the exercise the Tp has been involved in a number
of notable global deployments as part of our global R1
commitment. Personnel from the Tp have deployed to a
number of regions all over the world including Libya, Egypt,
Bahrain, Qatar, and Turkey.
BRAVO TROOP - CORPS TUG OF WAR CHAMPIONSHIPS 2011
- by Sig Dear
A team from 30 Sig Regt went down to compete at this years
Corps Tug Of War Championships at the REME Phase 2 Camp
in Bordon. Twelve members of the Regt, led by Capt Ken
Smith, travelled down to the championships raring to go
earlier this month. The day started off with a bang with 3
consecutive wins against the RLC, Royal Artillery and the
REME which was the first weight category of 560kg in the
bag. The competition continued with wins in the 600kg,
4x4kg, 640kg and 680kg events. The team won in all
categories across the board, not a bad day’s work for the
Regt! After the competition had finished and all the
adrenaline had died down, all teams attended the prize giving.
With last place going to the REME, third place going to the
Royal Artillery, and a well deserved second place for the RLC,
leaving the Royal Signals as winners at this year’s Corps Tug
Of War Championships. Lets hope that the Corps team can
come back with a strong team next year to defend the title!
CHARLIE TROOP - EXERCISE CHARLIE VENTURE DRAGON
- by Cpl Pearce and LCpl Stone
C Tp deployed on adventure training to RAF St Mawgan
(Newquay) for a week of Rock Climbing, Kayaking and Coastal
Walking. Whilst there, the guys were split into 3 groups to
carry out these activities. Each one was led by a dedicated
instructor, Cpl Lee Pearce led the Coastal Walking, Sgt ‘Jase’
Whitehead took Rock Climbing and Cpl John Doran came over
from 14 Sig Regt to instruct the Kayaking. On the first day we
all headed out down to Newquay to recce the town’s delights.
Thinking it would be a chilled evening, as it was only Monday,
it turned out Monday is one of the town’s busiest nights with
the big changeover of all the camp sites for the following
week. Needless to say, the next day - when the activities
began - there was a good few people feeling a bit worse for
wear! Over at the Rock Climbing site, Sig Morgan was struck
with a severe case of disco leg after climbing the dizzying
heights of at least 1 meter, not helped by the gentle
‘encouragement’ of Sig Tomczak, who shortly afterwards
wasn’t fairing much better trying to descend down from his
climb, screaming words to the effect of “There’s no chance
I’m going down this rope!”
256 SIGNAL SQUADRON
OC
SSM
Maj S Short
WO2 (SSM) L Mathew
ALPHA TROOP – EX SWAN CONNECTION 1
From the 6-16th Jul 11 most of 256 Sig Sqn was deployed on Ex
SWAN CONNECTION 1. The purpose of the exercise was to
practice leadership and develop basic infantry skills and drills.
Having gained instruction in the basic principles of everything
from the 6 section battle drills to vehicle anti ambush drills we
began the testing phase of the exercise on Salisbury Plain.
The instructors made the situation on the ground as realistic
as possible to gain the most out of us, and to give us a taste
of what it would be like on the ground in real time Ops. We
had to patrol from stand to stand with various ambushes and
IED encounters over a 2 week period. The last 2 days was an
All in all, it was a lot of fun and enjoyed by everyone who
attended and it was a great week for all the new guys – LCpl
Payne, LCpl Arthur Wakefield, LCpl Hughes, LCpl Pocock,
LCpl Turner, LCpl Gilbert, LCpl Leighton, LCpl ‘Moulin’
Rouget, Sig Evans and LCpl Bush – to get to know one
another and for the older members to get to know them.
Continued on page 58
55
SOinC(A) UPDATE
- by Brig TJP Watts OBE ADC SOinC(A)
Hello everyone. These are times of great change. The Army and our sister Services are embarking on the
most far reaching changes since the end of the Cold War, and perhaps longer. But we are
all still heavily committed to operations, particularly Afghanistan, and to staying ready to
support other contingencies, including HQ ARRC and NATO, the Joint Rapid Reaction Force,
UK Operations including the Olympics, Special Forces and other government departments,
Signals Intelligence, Cyber, EOD . . . the list goes on. We are very much in demand.
I’d love to be able to tell you that I have all the answers. Of course I don’t, but what I can
do is work hard, with the team here in Blandford and elsewhere on behalf of the Corps and
its wider family, and to keep people informed about the changes we do know about.
As part of the initial package of changes, some of which are tied into the Strategic Defence
and Security Review, our structures are adjusting. Here are some of the headlines:
•
HQ 2 Signal Brigade will disband around the end of 2012 as its role in supporting the Olympics comes to an end. The units
currently in the brigade will move to be under command of the remaining 2 signal brigades and we are working now to
determine the best mix.
•
7th Signal Regiment will disband by mid 2012 following its commitment to supporting the Interim Joint Command
Headquarters in Afghanistan.
•
19th Light Brigade HQ and Signal Squadron (209) is currently busy supporting collective training for Op HERRICK. The
squadron will adjust its makeup to enable it to meet likely tasks, and disband finally with the Brigade HQ in early 2013.
•
The Unified System Support Organisation, based in Blandford has been steadily growing in size and importance. It has a
critical role providing expert Level 3 support to deployed information and communication services across Defence, and
provides a combination of deployed and ‘reachback’ support. On 30th September 2011 it will be re-titled 15th Signal
Regiment (Information Support) and be established fully as a Royal Signals Unit, albeit with very joint manning and roles.
•
The one-star Signal Officer in Chief post, and my current role, will cease in March 2012. Responsibilities for producing
Command Support and EW doctrine and strategy, setting training requirements, designing the Corps’ structures, and
integrating and trialling new equipment capabilities will move to HQ Land Forces under a ‘Capability Director’ (me
initially), and join up with similar functions supporting Intelligence, as well as taking on new tasks, including equipment
requirement setting. As part of that process we have already taken the Command and Control Development Centre
(C2DC) under command.
•
A new post, the ‘Corps Colonel’ will be created, and by the time you read this, the first officer will have been selected. He
or she will be the head of the serving Corps, like I am now, with specific responsibilities for ethos, support to recruiting,
support to the Military Secretary and the APC, the retired Corps and the wider family, benevolence and operational
support, heritage and the Museum. Importantly, he will visit units and provide reports back to HQ Land Forces – if
necessary to CGS himself – helping assure the health and effectiveness of our profession and wider family into the future. These changes are mirrored elsewhere across almost all of the Army, including the Armoured Corps, Infantry, Artillery,
Engineers, Intelligence Corps, Logistics Corps and REME.
This is just the start. There will be lots more change in the coming years, and we’ll need to beware sacred cows – many will become
extinct. The Army will be getting significantly smaller and there will be a very different mix of regulars, reservists and contractors in
the future. In the meantime we need to keep focused on the jobs in hand, mostly about success in Afghanistan, and getting ready
for the next challenges. That means training hard, technically, militarily and in terms of sport and Arduous Training.
Certa Cito
56
CHANGE OF R SIGNALS DRIVER LINEMAN STOREMAN TRADE NAME TO
COMMUNICATION LOGISTIC SPECIALIST
It has been recognised that the name ‘Driver Lineman Storeman’ is no longer appropriate; it does
not accurately describe what the trade does and is not an attractive name from a recruiting
perspective. As such, with effect from 1 Oct 11, the name Communication Logistic Specialist has
been chosen; it serves both purposes of describing the trade and is deemed a positive name for
recruiting and marketing.
There are no significant changes to trade apart from the name change. However the following
should be noted:
•
Line Training. As of Aug 11 line training has been removed from trade training.
Line training will instead be delivered to R SIGNALS soldiers of all trades as part of the
Basic Signalling Skills package.
•
Stores Training. As of Aug 11 the Stores Accountant Pre Employment Training
(PET) is included in Phase 2 Comm Log Spec trade training. Therefore, those that
successfully complete Comm Log Spec Phase 2 trade training from Aug 11 onwards will be
fully employable in the stores and MT environment on arrival at their first unit.
•
R SIGNALS Stores Accountant Pre Employment Training (PET). There are still
many individuals from the Driver Lineman legacy trade who are required to complete the
R SIGNALS Stores Accountant PET. Dvr Lmn Stmn (Comm Log Spec) who have passed through Phase 2 trade training
since the Dvr Lmn and Tech Sup Spec trades merged in 09 are still required to return to DCCIS to complete PET if not
already done so. 3 courses are run a year at DCCIS with a capacity of 10 on each. It is anticipated that this course will run
for a further 3-4 years to allow remaining individuals to be trained. Units are encouraged to bid for places for individuals
who still require conversion.
•
•
Employment. R SIGNALS Wing APC, units and individuals themselves have a responsibility to ensure that Comm
Log Spec gain experience in both the Motor Transport and stores environment in order to enhance promotability.
•
Promotion Boards. It is R SIGNALS Wing APC intention that Dvr Lmn and Tech Sup Spec legacy trades will be
boarded together from 2012. The promotability of Comm Log Spec who have not completed PET will not initially be
affected. However, in due course Comm Log Spec that have not completed PET may become less competitive on
promotion boards as they will be less employable in comparison to their peers. It is an individual and unit responsibility to
ensure Comm Log Spec who have not completed PET do so at the earliest opportunity. .
•
Line Belt. With effect from 1 Oct 11 the line belt will no longer be worn by any individual.
Pay. The name change does not affect pay and the trade will remain low range for pay.
Establishment Changes:
•
JPA Competences. An application to the JPA cell at APC has been made to add the following competences to
JPA. HR admin within units will be given direction in due course from HQ SOinC(A) with regard to amending competences
for the trade.
o
Comm Log Spec Class 1.
o
o
•
JPA Main Trade for Pay. Owing to financial issues the Main Trade For Pay (MTFP) name is unlikely to change for
some time and will remain as the legacy trades of Dvr Lmn and Tech Sup Spec on JPA. Currently only legacy Tech Sup
Specs are identified as Tech Sup Spec for MTFP. However the intention is that all individuals who have completed the PET
course be reclassified as Tech Sup Spec for MTFP. This will allow easy identification via JPA as to whether a Comm Log
Spec is stores trained or not. HR admin within units will be given direction in due course from HQ SOinC(A) with regard to
amending MTFP.
•
SLIM. All liability on SLIM for the legacy trades of Tech Sup Spec and Dvr Lmn will shortly transition to Tech Sup
Spec only. As unit establishments are updated SO2 Establishments will use the free text space to enter the name of
Comm Log Spec. This will be actioned from 1 Oct 11.
Further information. All enquiries concerning the name change should be directed via the Chain of Command to Capt S Devenish,
SO3 People, HQ SOinC(A) (94371 5484) or WO1 (YofS (EW)) M P Duckering, Corps YofS (EW), HQ SOinC(A) (94371 5604).
57
Bird’ Welton leaves for an instructors position in Blandford
and Sgt ‘Frank the Tank’ Taylor leaves to become a Tp Sgt for
phase 1 recruits. We wish all the guys and girls the best of
luck for the future!
256 SQUADRON MT – REGT OPEN DAY - by Sig Pepper
Now back at camp we prepare for a busy period as the Tp is
preparing to take over JTFHQ 1 from 250 GSS. Finally, some
farewells to members of the Tp. Our Illustrious Leader SSgt
‘Bird is the Word’ Bird leaves us to take over as SSM at 14
Sigs, Cpl Stu Payne left us to join 216 Sig Sqn and Cpl ‘Scouse
On 3 July 2011, the Regt held an annual open day for the
public to attend. The sun was shinning and the wind breaks
soon filled up with people wanting to explore what the Regt
had to offer. 256 MT occupied “ye old stocks” where civvies
could punish friends, family or even a senior from Bramcote
Camp. 250 SSM (WO2 Un) was one of those who was
fortunate enough to be in the stocks, but later regretted it
when a small child decided to give him a plastic bucket to the
face. The biggest queue of the day was created by the
presence of Sgt Neal in the stocks - I wonder why. All in all
everyone enjoyed themselves and the day was a complete
success thanks to the help of all 256 MT and the throwing
arms of the public. We raised over £100 for charity and had
plenty of fun in the process!
32nd SIGNAL REGIMENT (VOLUNTEERS)
GLASGOW
REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS
CO
RSM
Lt Col PT Donegan
WO1 (RSM) BB Newton
RHQ UPDATE
The summer months have provided a slight respite for RHQ,
following a busy period of exercises and support to UK Ops.
July saw the CO and Adjt accompanying a Young Officer
collective of Capt David Carr, Lts Gareth Dixon and Mark
Jolley and 2Lt Will Whitmore down to sunny Blandford for Ex
HORSESHOE HURDLE; a weekend of TA YO development and
Corps updates. As well as a multitude of informative lectures
and presentations the good weather enabled some social
development, ably assisted by the Mess Bar, and opportunity
for sport, with a game of inter-Regt rounders bringing out the
best of competitive spirit amongst the assembled COs!
The Regtl focus is now on Annual Camp 2011, with
preparations firmly underway for the Regt’s deployment to
Germany and Holland in September. With a packed
programme of MATTS, physical training, ranges and cultural
development it looks like it will be an excellent camp for all!
The rambling began on Thursday morning following the usual
cracking fry-up and last minute run around packing essential
hill walking apparel. The Sqn split into 2 syndicates, Alpha
Group and Bravo Group, with each having a separate section
of the Speyside walk to complete, ending the day in the
“Mash Tun” pub for a well deserved glass of amber nectar
and a recount of the day’s adventures.
Morale was given a boast early on when Sig Martin took a
detour, resulting in the group missing a mountainous portion
of the hill. His argument that “I meant it...It was a shortcut!”
was not convincing, but there weren’t too many complaints.
The halfway checkpoint for the quickly re-named “A Team”
was a stop off at the Glenlivet whisky distillery where the
group had lunch and enjoyed a free dram of the company’s 12
year old single malt: thanks go to the OC, Maj McVey, for
asking the staff if there were “Any freebies?”. Friday saw the
RMO, Maj Pettigrew, and her Dalmatian-sheepdog, Diva,
clocking some extra miles with some impromptu herding
techniques on the local livestock. With canine companion
quickly under control, the long and arduous day’s walking
finally found the A Team back at Mash Tun for the evening, as
they waited for the remainder of the Sqn to arrive.
August sees the farewell of the Adjt, Capt Chris Fogarty, as he
heads off to get “educated” at ICSC(L). We thank him
heartedly for his excellent work over the last 2 years and wish
him and his family all the best for the future. In the same
breath we welcome his replacement, Capt Nathan Streetley,
who arrives fresh from HQ Land – “Welcome to the North,
and hope you brought a raincoat!”
52 SUPPORT SQUADRON
OC SSM
Maj T McVey
WO2 (SSM) K Swan
EXERCISE SPEYSIDE CANTER
Between 27 - 31 July 2011, members of 52 Sp Sqn embarked on
an adventurous training exercise in Elgin, northern Scotland,
that would not only test their navigation and map reading
skills, but also allow them to take in the magnificent views
that the Speyside walks deliver.
58
An “undone” shoelace provides SSgt Lawler with another
oxygen break!
Saturday saw the Sqn spit into 3 teams and commence the
final walk. Starting at an old railway station at staggered
intervals and ending alongside the meandering river Spey, this
was allegedly a “flat course”, “the easiest route of the
weekend” and “suitable for wearing trainers”. However
picturesque the walk was, the first few hours certainly raised
some eyebrows: after conquering “death mountain”, the
halfway checkpoint allowed the walkers to replen their water
and compare and treat their blisters! The afternoon saw SSM
Swan decide to go for a dip in the dirtiest bog she could find...
twice. SSgt Lawler and Sgt Tinney quickly showed their
ability to prioritise by rescuing the map instead of lending a
helping hand! The second half of the walk was a respite, with
a picturesque route back to the TAC. The day finished with a
fantastic BBQ, after which the CO provided an interactive
presentation on “How Whisky is Made” with a tasting of
different Whiskies from their respective regions.
Londonderry. For many in the Sqn this was their first
introduction to the proud history of the NIH and to this end
Sgt Ros Colhoun, along with Cpl Billy Kane, delivered an
excellent in-depth presentation on the NIH. This ‘look back’
into the past gave everyone a great account of the gallant
actions of the NIH during the war years and outlined how the
2 Sqns, 40 (NIH) Sig Sqn and B Sqn (NIH) QOY, are in the
‘blood line’ of the NIH Regt.
Sunday morning saw the usual admin pack up, followed by a
battlefield tour of Culloden, visiting the National Trust centre
to learn about the final confrontation of the 1745 Jacobite
rising, and then a guided tour of the undulating battlefield
from one of the very knowledgeable guides.
After a final snack of tea and scones the Sqn boarded the
minibuses and made our way back to 52 Sp Sqn. Thanks go to
all those involved in the planning and execution of the
exercise, especially SSgt Lawler and Sgt Tinney for the
organisation of the walks, Sgt Garnett for transport, Sig
Maciver in his SQMS role, and the chefs who provided us with
the food that kept us going throughout the exercise: the
seafood stir-fry was excellent! A great time had by all, and
we now look forward to annual camp.
40 (NORTH IRISH HORSE) SIGNAL SQUADRON
OC SSM Maj S Burgess
WO2 (SSM) G Campbell
At the end of May the Sqn took part in Ex MAPLE LEAF – the
annual commemoration weekend for the battle of ‘The Hitler
Line’. The Hitler Line was one of a series of strong German
defensive lines in southern Italy during WWII. Tanks of the
North Irish Horse (NIH) fought alongside the 1st Canadian
Infantry Division and helped break the German line on May 23,
1944. In recognition of the support given to the Canadians
the Commander of 1st Canadian Infantry Division (General GC
Vokes) intimated that all those who assisted in the assault of
the Adolf Hitler Line should wear the Maple Leaf as an
honour. To this day 40 (NIH) Sig Sqn, as direct descendants of
the NIH, continue this tradition by wearing the Canadian
Maple Leaf on the right arm of our uniform.
The Hitler Line weekend (20–22 May) kicked off on the Friday
evening with a NIH Association Dinner in Londonderry. This
was attended by Lt Col Dennis Janelle (a serving Canadian
EME Officer) from the Canadian High Commission in London,
40 (NIH) Sig Sqn Hon Col Lord Dennis Rogan, B Sqn (NIH)
QOY Hon Col Colin McDonald, Canon Sam McVeigh and Maj
Johnny Taylor OC B Sqn (NIH) QOY. Speeches were made by
Chairman of the NIH Northwest Branch Maj (Rtd) Mac
McGowan and Branch Secretary Maj (Rtd) George Wylie. A
recital of the 1944 bloody battle, which cost the lives of 36
NIH Officers and Soldiers in breaking the Hitler Line, was
delivered to the dinner guests by OC 40 (NIH) Sig Sqn Maj
Sam Burgess. It was a most enjoyable evening for all and a
great opportunity to catch up with former members of both
the Royal Signals and QOY. Thanks are expressed to WO2
(YofS) Colin Ritchie, SSgt Ian Palmer and Sgt Ricky George
for helping with setting up the dinner in the hotel location.
On Saturday, and amid the many showers, rehearsals were
held for the main Hitler Line parade in Caw Camp,
40 (NIH) Sig Sqn Officers with Canadian EME Officer,
Lt Col Janelle
Sunday was the Hitler Line Parade and the day started early,
especially for those Sqn members who had to make the 80
mile journey from Clonaver Camp in Belfast to Caw Camp in
Londonderry and be on parade for 0900! It was also the first
time the OC, Maj Sam Burgess, was to take the parade
supported by the Sqn 2IC, Capt Derek Irvine, and SSM Glenn
Campbell. There were a lot of commands and moves to be
practised before the dignitaries and guests arrived. Amongst
those in attendance to view the parade were several Lord
Lieutenants, Hon Cols to both 40 (NIH) Sig Sqn and B Sqn
(NIH) QOY along with the Canadian representative Lt Col
Dennis Janelle. After a Church Service officiated by Canon
Sam McVeigh all dignitaries, guests and family members took
CO 32 Sig Regt and OC 40 (NIH) Sig Sqn talk with Comd 38 (Irish)
Bde during AFD
their places outside and SSM Glenn Campbell called the 3
guards of the NIH onto parade. A former piper with 40 Sig
Regt, Cpl Robert Wilson (now 152 RLC), played the marching
guards onto the parade square. Lt Col Dennis Janelle and
both Hon Cols inspected the parade. By the display of medals
across both the serving TA personnel and NIH Association
members there were plenty of stories told about operational
tours from recent and not so recent times! The 3 inspecting
officers then took position for the march past with Hon Col
Colin McDonald taking the salute. The day finished with a
buffet meal and a presentation of an Irish Blackthorn stick to
the visiting Canadian Lt Col. This was the first time Caw Camp
has hosted the annual Hitler Line parade since the Royal
Signals move from the old TA Centre in Limavady. It proved to
be a very good venue and delivered a memorable day.
59
The CO visited the Sqn over the weekend of the nationwide
Armed Forces Day (AFD) events. First thing on his busy 2 day
programme was a call to see Sqn members during an equipment
care period. He got around everybody and especially enjoyed
the Northern Irish ‘craic’ with Cpl David Jones. Next on the
agenda was a visit to the Somme Nursing Home in Belfast with
OC 40 Sqn to meet nursing staff and hand over a cheque for
nearly £1000 generated by 40 (NIH) Sig Sqn members taking
part in the Belfast Marathon. A special mention must go to
SSgt Paul McCann for being one of the key personalities in
generating the money for such a worthy cause. Well done to
him and all those who participated in the Belfast marathon to
produce the sponsored funds (namely Lt Lindsay Fulton, Sgt
Anne Scates, Sgt Debbie Wolfe, Sgt Wendy Cush, LCpl Nick
Graham and LCpl Arron McCully).
After the Nursing Home visit the CO was spirited away to
Carrickfergus to meet with soldiers from 40 (NIH) Sqn Sqn
who were providing both a Royal Signals’ Bowman display
stand in the main AFD event and also assisting 38X (Irish) with
comms on the AFD site. The CO got to meet key personalities
in 38X (Irish) and was introduced to the Bde Comd Brig
Edward Smyth-Osbourne. The day concluded with a few
pints of Guinness (purely for medicinal purposes!), some Irish
hospitality and an early bed. On Sunday morning the CO and
Capt Ian Wolfe (40 Traffic Officer) took to the water to see
some of the enchanting Irish coastline. Before the CO could
say ‘complete your tax return on time’ both he and Capt Ian
Wolfe were dashing about on a RIB with OC 40 checking the
coastal sights. Everyone was impressed to learn that Capt Ian
Wolfe had completed some time with the senior service as a
young lad, although rumour has it this RIB dash was actually
the first time he had left port? Well done to him the sea
dog…. ship ahoy sailor boy! The CO was pleased to see Maj
Sam Burgess paying attention to his equipment care by
washing down the RIB and fresh water flushing the outboard
engine. With such attention to detail by the OC all the
equipment at 40 will surely be in great condition Col…!!
Returning to land, and drying off, the CO, OC and Traffic
Officer then paid a visit to Caw Camp in Londonderry. The CO
spoke with soldiers who were undertaking Det maintenance.
LCpl Alan Dawson was on hand to recommend a few choice
pubs in Belfast for the CO to visit next time he is across in a
social capacity! Sgt Richard Dennison, one of the Sqn PTIs,
gave an overview of Sqn fitness activities and back-briefed
the CO on the performance of the 40 team on the recent
Altcar Challenge; which saw 4 PTIs from the Sqn secure 13th
place out of a field of 33. After his Caw visit the CO grabbed a
flight back to Scotland and probably got some well earned
shut eye en-route.
July saw 3 representatives from the Sqn attended the 2011 TA
Operational Shooting Competition in Bisley. The 3, Sgt Colin
Gordon, LCpl John Colgan and LCpl Andrew Clarke, each took
part in both team and individual matches designed to test
marksmanship skills at distances up to 500m. The shoots are
now continually being amended in line with current
operational requirements so it was no easy job, even for the
more experienced! Firers are now left to work out their own
magazine changes and the continuous nature of the matches
means that a minor stoppage or lapse in concentration is
severely penalised by a loss of points; reflecting the
importance of slick weapon handling skills on operations.
The top 50 firers shoot ‘The Rural Contact Match’ on Century
Range at Bisley and this is used to determine the winner.
Running from 500m to 100m firing 2 shots at each distance
from varying fire positions, followed by rapid and snap
practices at 200m and 300m really does test both fitness and
shooting prowess.
CO 32 Sig Regt and OC 40 (NIH) Sig Sqn present a cheque to
Somme Nursing Home
Congratulations to both Sgt Gordon and LCpl Colgan from 40
(NIH) Sig Sqn for (again!) receiving their TA50 status for 2011
and also to LCpl Natasha Pinnock from 33 Sig Sqn who was
delighted to achieve her first TA50 medal on her initial Bisley
visit. Of course none of this would be possible without the
support of Capt Paul Williams who worked hard behind the
scenes to supply the 32 Sig Regt soldiers with weapons and
kit to compete in the competition. A special word of thanks
goes to him for helping the soldiers of 40 (NIH) Sig Sqn assist
32 Sig Regt make their mark at TAOSC.
37th SIGNAL REGIMENT (VOLUNTEERS)
REDDITCH
RSM
WO1 (RSM) Paul McGuire
It’s been a busy 2 months in the Regt with a Bde Driver
Training Camp, support to The Royal International Air Tattoo
2011 and HERRICK training being just some of the activities
our soldiers have been taking part in. On the sporting front
we’ve been out in the waters of Denmark, jumping out of
planes and doing our own version of the ‘Tour de France’!
We say goodbye to the Regtl Yeoman, Neil Port, whose
enthusiasm and knowledge will be sorely missed in Ops and
we wish him well on his deployment to Camp Leatherneck.
WO1 (RSM) Paul McGuire is now settled into his new post and
Sgt Dan Hine is back safely from Ops. Welcome also to Cpl
Margaret Kelly who has joined 36 Sig Sqn on transfer from 2
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(CofD) Sig Sqn and Sgt’s Adam and Elaine Witcombe who
have also returned following completion of FTRS posts.
CORPS ROUNDERS CHAMPIONSHIPS - by Capt Susie Wallis
10 ladies from the Regt travelled up to Grantham on 6 Jul for
the Royal Signals Rounders Championships. After an eventful
journey (dodgy satnavs and exploding yoghurts) and an awful
night’s sleep (thanks 1 Div) we gathered for a quick refresher
of our throwing/hitting skills. Having had some expert tuition
the week prior from QM 30 Sigs, Anthea Burdus, we had our
positions sorted out and went into the first game against 3
Div with a positive attitude.
The 10 teams were split into 2 Groups (we were Group B) and
the format was 20 good balls against all the teams in the
Group. I lost the first toss which became something of a
recurring theme!! Batting first, we made a respectable 5.5
rounders. Then onto the fielding and we focused on not
letting the opposition make it to LCpl Melissa Bellamy on 2nd
base (so not accumulating lots of half rounders). Sig Debbie
Barrett soon settled into the bowling and Capt Lucy Sewell
and Sgt Zoe Trimm made a good team on backstop and 1st
base respectively and we managed to keep them to only 3
rounders in their innings. I think the team were surprised at
how well we’d all gelled and we went into our second match
against 22 Sigs with an even more positive approach. They
didn’t have any superstars but like us, seemed to work well as
a team and we drew 5 - 5.
before and there were a few teams there very concerned for
a while about the possibility of a TA team lifting the trophy!
There’s always next year……
LCpl Mel Bellamy celebrating
ROYAL SIGNALS SITE AT THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL
- by Capt Tom Lappin
It was cold while we waited to score rounders
30 Sigs were our next opponents and although we thought
we might know their tactics from the practise with them the
previous week watching them play 22 Sigs. We saw that they
had a couple of gladiators! It was a tough match but Sig
Emily Best and Cfn Jenni Callow both scored rounder’s, LCpl
Karen Butler made a couple of halves and Sig Becky Barwell
put in some good running to get us up to 8 rounders. We
fielded well again and Pte Sam Lumb caught out 2 huge
hitters, limiting them to only 7 rounders! 22 Sigs and
ourselves had both won 2 and drawn 1, so on rounders
difference we piped them by half!! This saw us go through to
play 11 Sigs (runners up of Group A) for a place in the final.
Unfortunately we were unaware the format was changed to
25 Rounders each and all batted for all we were worth, losing
most of our top hitters within the first 10 balls! LCpl Melissa
Bellamy and I were then the only ones left in with 13 balls left
and unfortunately the fielding was so tight that we were out
in the next 2 balls.
37 Sig Regt (V) were given the task to rejuvenate and design
the Corps site at the National Memorial site in Staffordshire
under the careful eye of the QM, Capt Tom Lappin. A
contractor was given the chosen design and work was carried
out by the contractor with help in the labouring department
from WO2 (RQMS) Robbo Robertson and SSgt (SQMS) Andy
Milton to keep costs to a minimum.
On completion of the
work soldiers from the
Regt refurnished the
benches around the site.
In recognition of the work
and the development to
the Royal Signals Site a
blessing took place at the
National Memorial on 27
Jul 11. Present was Comd
2 Sig Bde, the Regtl Col,
Royal Signals Association
members and officers and
soldiers from the Regt.
Prior to the service 20
cyclists rode from
Redditch (RHQ location)
to the National Memorial Site, covering approximately 50
miles in 3 hours 15 minutes. Those taking part included Comd
2 Sig Bde, the Regtl Col, the Corps RSM and other officers and
soldiers from the Corps and Regt.
The Regtl Padre (who is also the Padre for the National
Memorial)
conducted the
moving service and
following all the
official photos, a VIP
buffet was enjoyed
by all.
Sig Becky Barwell on her way to another rounder
Having said this we had 5 selected for the Corps Squad and
Sgt Zoe Trimm was the runner up with a total of 6 in the ‘Top
Number of Rounders Scored’ competition. We played
brilliantly as a team considering we had never played together
Thanks to all in the
QM’s Department
for their hard work
to rejuvenate this
special site.
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EX MERCURY CORPS SAILING REGATTA - by Capt Susie Wallis
On 12 Jul 6 members of the Regt departed Heathrow to travel
over to Kiel, Germany where we would attend the Corps
Sailing Regatta. The ‘crew’ comprised the CO, RSM, RQMS,
Ops Offr and SSM 53 Sig Sqn, ably led by our ringer Skipper,
Cpl Speakman (RE). Having been briefed we set about
making the boat ready for our 10 day voyage around the
Danish Islands. Firstly a food and beer run was required to
ensure we could survive any eventuality and the bilges were
filled with some top quality Belgian produce! The first night’s
sleep onboard was interesting; sleeping in the galley with the
smelly cheese was unpleasant but the lapping of the water
made for quite a relaxing evening.
The next few days saw us experience better weather and we
went firstly to Middelfart and then onto Horstens, where the
local yacht club traditionally host the Corps. Saturday and we
were all Competent Crew (allegedly) so it was onto the next
challenge; racing. They were short races, the start being
paramount for success but we had the ever vigilant Ops Offr
on lookout on the bow. We came 3rd, 2nd, 4th, 2nd and 3rd,
finishing 3rd in the day’s overall standings. Our pirate
costumes may have impeded some of our crucial Spinnaker
changes but at least we didn’t loose it and fly the French flag,
like 11 Sig Regt!
37 Sig Regt Sailors - Runners Up at the Corps Sailing Regatta
The RSM steering us on an anything but a straight course
We set off early the next morning; only the RQMS had sailed
previously; gaining his Competent Crew in the Caribbean
earlier in the year! This was not the Caribbean. Even in the
harbour before we left SSM ‘Johnny’ Cash was feeling queasy
and things deteriorated from there. The sea was rough; we
later found out it had been a Force 8, boarding on Force 9
gale, and in a Force 7 boats are not recommended to leave
harbour. Being a military ex of course we had to reach the
next port by the evening so we pushed on. It seemed that
anyone who went down into the galley began to feel sick.
‘Johnny’ Cash and the Skipper fed the fishes while the RSM
got his head down and the CO took the helm for 7 hours in a
perfect demo of how to ‘lead from the front’. The RQ and
Ops Offr were of very little help; spotting waves before they
crashed over the deck but generally just existing. When we
docked that night in Faaborg at 9pm most of us swore we
wouldn’t be sailing again. ‘Johnny’ Cash’s quote that evening
was the best of the trip - “I’ve brought a lot of things I don’t
need; my sun cream, my shorts and my flipping self!” We’d
have eaten anything that night but the RQ’s taglietelle was
actually pretty good.
The next day and we set sail to Ega Harbour near Aarhus, a 50
mile race which we led for all the way due to some brilliant
tacking by the Skipper to get us through the channel even
though ‘Johnny’ Cash tried to ground us. We came blazing
across the finish line, Spinnaker billowing like a professional
crew. Some of the other boats had problems though and 2
retired from the racing with 10 Sig Regt even having a real
time ‘man-overboard’.
The RSM & RQ always looking out for each other
The Night passage; SSM Cash & the RSM on stag
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The overnight passage was on everyone’s minds and when
we woke to windy conditions we were all glad to hear the call
of ‘no sailing’ today. Some dinghy racing and knot tying kept
us busy and then we headed into the second largest city in
Denmark to see some culture for the first time. The RSM and
RQ showed some the youngsters how it’s done as they tested
the nightlife in most of the ports, upholding our country’s
reputation in arm wrestling. A late finish and an early start
the next day, we set sail at 0600 hrs the next morning. The
wind was almost non-existent and we had to anchor up for a
period, so we didn’t drift too far backwards in the race. The
RQ really enjoyed pulling the anchor up, then down, then
up…… Night-time sailing was an experience, the tankers
were deceptively close at times and porpoises followed the
boat as the sun set. At 0700 hrs the following morning we
were only halfway though the 100 mile race and the
organisers made the call to stop us, at what we were told by
Cpl Speakman, was the biggest bridge in the world.
Anchoring in Marstal we were able to swim with the jellyfish
and relax for the first time before enjoying some refreshment
in the Irish and Scottish bars in the town.
The freefall lasted for approx 60 seconds travelling at speeds
of up to 120 mph and then the parachute was deployed about
5,000 ft and we came into land. The adrenalin rush that you
get from freefall cannot be explained, it is an absolutely
amazing feeling. Solo jumps here we come!
The next day was the final ‘Long Passage home’ to Kiel and
we finished a respectable 3rd. Our consistency and a well
timed ‘protest’ by the Skipper, lead to us finishing 2nd overall.
Angst between the crews was put aside and we all celebrated
a great exercise. We had all learned heaps and as the near
Force 9 was now a distant memory, we’d all recommend the
exercise (well apart from SSM 53) and would do it again.
Thanks to the organisers and our Skipper.
FUNDRAISING FOR A LOCAL CHARITY – by SSgt Thumwood
Five members of 36 (E) Sig Sqn recently took part in the
‘Mersea Round the Island Race’ to raise funds to support the
local ‘Children’s Community Nursing Team’ in Colchester.
SSgt Jim Thumwood, the NRPS SQMS for the Sqn, organised
the event to thank the team who cared for his son Jack, prior
to Jack’s untimely death in February 2010. The event raised a
total of £1205.00.
Sarah and Susie with their instructors
Many thanks to our instructors Sgt Dave Clarke and LCpl
Frank Millerick from The Tigers Parachute Display Team for
keeping us alive and to UK Parachuting for providing the after
jump barbecue. So far we have raised approximately £700;
thank you to all who have sponsored us.
ASSISTING THE ESSEX ARMY CADET FORCE
- by Capt Steve White
Essex ACF has a number of Royal Signals Detachments to
whom 36 (E) Sig Sqn provide support over the year. In July
the cadets deployed on their annual camp to Folkestone, Kent
where they undertook a variety of activities. Capt Steve
White, PSAO, volunteered to act as ‘Tour Guide’ to the Ypres
Salient.
SSgt Jim Thumwood and the team hand over the cash
The cadets visited a number of First World War sites and
cemeteries, ending the day at Ypres and laying a wreath at
the Menin Gate during the ‘Last Post’ ceremony. LCpl Keith
Hercus, who is a qualified ‘Kayak Instructor’, assisted with the
Adventure Training alongside the Cadet Training Team.
A PARACHUTE JUMP FOR ABF - by Sarah Trout
On Friday 5th Aug Capt Susie Wallis and civilian Admin Officer
Sarah Trout ventured to Sibson Airfield, Peterborough to do a
tandem sky dive in aid of The Army Benevolent Fund. While
Sarah had completed one previously, the Ops Offr, with her
fear of heights, never had.
On arrival the sun was shining but there was also a lot of
cloud cover, would this stop us jumping? After registering
and lots of form filling we were given a brief introduction to
the members of The Tigers Parachute Display Team (from
PWRR), the equipment and various positions that would be
needed for exiting the plane, freefall, pulling the parachute
and then most importantly, landing. By now the clouds had
started to clear and nerves were starting to show as the first
jumpers were paired with their tandem instructors.
Our names were called and we entered the area marked
‘jumpers’ only. After donning our bright red suits topped with
ABF T-Shirts, helmets and goggles we climbed into the
harnesses and were trussed up like turkeys by our tandem
instructors. Once in the plane it was time to attach ourselves
to our instructors, do final checks and after a short climb (!) to
13,000 ft, throw ourselves out of a perfect serviceable plane.
LCpl Keith Hercus assists a cadet to enter the lake
Op HERRICK - by Maj John Riley
I was fortunate to be accepted at very short notice for a Post
on Op HERRICK working at Camp Bastion and I deployed on
16 Dec 10. The job was as J4 Infrastructure with the Joint
Helicopter Force where I was responsible for a broad range of
projects on the airfield but most notably a number of major
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capital works programmes.
The job was extremely
demanding with long
hours but it was very
rewarding working
alongside multiple
agencies and civilian
contractors to achieve
project completion. In
my civilian job I worked
with colleges on major
capital building projects so
I was used to working with
civilian contractors which
certainly gave me a head
start as I arrived at Bastion
to hit the ground running
and was soon attending
site visits on all the
projects taking place. It
was a unique experience Maj John Riley in front of one of the VHR
working on an airfield
(Very High Readiness) Apache
with the emphasis on
helicopters which was fully armed
ensuring flight safety
and ready for immediate tasking
whilst maintaining
operational capability. My
helicopter recognition skills are now excellent as I had the
opportunity on a daily basis to get up close to a variety of
aircraft being operated by all the 3 services but you soon learn
very quickly when to give them a wide berth; especially when
they are taxing alongside a dust bowl as you get buried in fine
layer of sand.
At times working with the RAF and Navy provided a great
deal of humour and a quick lesson in their military
terminology. When I asked a Navy Petty Officer to confirm
the location to install earth spikes next to their aircraft I got a
reply as Port, Aft – I now know that is to the rear left. I just
had to translate this to the Egyptian civilian contractors, no I
don’t speak Egyptian but I used universal sign language and
shouted louder in English.
THE ROYAL INTERNATIONAL AIR TATTOO 2011 (EXERCISE
RED ARROW) – by Sgt Eileen Monaghan
‘frame boss’ Fraley, the Regtl TOT (the teams members were
all given call signs for the Radio comms– some more obvious
than others!) the work was progressing at a much faster rate
than anticipated.
LCpl Ellery (71SR) and Sgt Monaghan in the cockpit of a USAF
KC135 refueller on static display at the show
Day 4 saw most of the installations completed and testing
began. One of the most important installations was the
CRASH system; designed by the TOT to allow all the relevant
parties (i.e. Police, Fire, Ambulance, Air Traffic Control) to
simultaneously communicate with each other in the event of
a serious incident at the Air Show.
Two teams were also dispatched to set up CSTs in the Flight
Centre and Showground Operations Centre (SOC) to help the
staff with the day to day running, admin and support for the
Air Show. Cpl ‘Hank’ Williams was the det commander at the
Flight Centre; working for him were Sig ‘SatNav’ Dwyer, Sig
‘DC’ Dcaccia and Sig ‘Data’ Wong and they got to meet many
of the pilots and crews from all over the world. Along with
myself, Sig ‘Stud’ Ellery and Sig ‘Nessie’ Noon we settled into
the daily running in the Showground Operations Centre (it
does what it says on the tin!). The remaining personnel
provided fault finding capabilities and further installations as
required; Sig ‘Tractor’ Abrahams, LCpl ‘Elvis’ Johnson, Sig
‘Chewbaker’ Earwaker and Sig Tommy Harrison.
37 Sig Regt was leading the way within 2 Sig Bde to provide a
comms team to aid with the setting up and tear down of the
comms capability for the Royal International Air Show at RAF
Fairford; the 40th anniversary of the event.
Day 1 saw all the admin sorted out along with the briefings
and introductions to other team members (military and
civilian) within the Radio and IT Comms teams; one big happy
family. For some of us it was reunions as we’d done the event
previously and for others it was the start of good friendships.
Our accommodation was on an American Camp which was an
experience that won’t be forgotten and we had the
opportunity to see all sorts of aircraft at close proximity.
Day 2 and we began training on how to do installations of
telephone cables (refresher training for the old hats). Small
teams were assembled and allocated specific areas of
responsibility and I think it soon hit home the enormity of the
task which was to be undertaken across 2 sites on the airfield.
It takes 3 to 4 very long 12/13 hours days to put the telephone
system in.
It was my second year and I was given the task of running one
of the tels teams along with being the ‘A/SSM’ as Capt Rupert
Sharman put it….happy days! The social side was great and
everyone on the exercise got to know each other well which
encouraged a better working environment. But the
enthusiasm is there and much to the surprise and joy of Maj
64
The team in front of an A10 Tankbuster
Sig Noon was quite the character within the SOC; explaining
the origins of her Tam-o-shanter and her love of the American
“Reeses” peanut chocolate cakes, much to the amusement of
one of the American Air force Officers, Maj Bryon Greene. So
much so that he arranged for the QM Sgt to present her with
some Reeses and Twinkies in exchange for a glass of the
Amber liquid of Irn Bru. Sigs Abrahams and Dwyer finally got
to drive the RAF Fire Engines (after the air show ended) and
are now fully familiarised on the said beasts. The Aircraft that
sticks in most minds was the Vulcan Bomber which to this day
is the only one that remains flying. Our Air Show photo this
year was with the iconic A10 Tank Buster; up close and
personal and awesome to see flying.
JOTAC EXPERIENCE – by Lt Earl
Only 3 weeks after getting married and less than 24 hrs after
moving into our first house was probably not the ideal time to
go away on a course. However, I left my new husband
surrounded by boxes with a list of white goods to buy and
headed down to Warminster for the Junior Officers Tactics
Course, JOTAC.
JOTAC is a Regular course focused at the Battle Group level
that has recently been increased from 3 to 4 weeks. TA
personnel are encouraged to attend it all if their work
situation permits, but the requirement is weeks 2 and 3 with
an intensive pre-weekend to catch up on the week 1 material
then the Saturday following week 3 for the final assessments.
The pre-weekend saw 8 of us tackling the in-test to find out
just how much of MK1 we could remember, followed by
lessons on COESCEN (the fictional scenario we were to be
immersed in for the next fortnight), map marking, task orgs,
CSS calculations, watch-keeping and the 7Q combat estimate
at BG level.
On the Monday morning we were divided among the
syndicates and met our DS. The course was a mixture of
lectures, syndicate room discussions and exercises where we
put our combat estimating skills to the test. In these, we each
played the role of a member of BGHQ to analyse the situation,
develop a number of courses of action and take direction
from the CO as to which one we should develop fully and wargame, as well as using ComBAT to generate Warning Orders,
Task Orgs, Decision Support Overlays and Matrices and our
OpO as we went along. We then executed our plans in the
Battlefield Command and Control Trainer BC2T) to see how it
survived contact with the enemy - rarely well!
On the final Saturday the TA personnel undertook an
individual combat estimate and out-test to check what we
had learned over the previous 2 weeks. This was actually a
vast amount which will set us up well for our future roles as
Junior Captains.
BRIGADE DRIVER TRAINING CAMP – by Cpl Mat Weston
On 14 Jun Sgt John Phillips, Cpl Matt Weston and Sig Meg
Henderson made the long trip to Catterick to take part in the
2 Bde Driver Training Camp. The objective was to get more
members of the Tp familiarised with Wolf and Penman
trailers. The first part of the course was all about “getting to
know the Land Rovers” before taking them out on the road
and across country. All was going well until one of the other
drivers on the course managed to roll the Wolf after going up
a hill and hitting a divot! The initial reaction of the training
staff was laughter before going over to make sure the Wolf
and its driver were ok. All members of the group then had to
complete the obstacle. Sig Henderson completed it with ease
first time, so much for women drivers! Overall, it was a good
few days in the Yorkshire Dales, all of which will have a big
impact on the capabilities within the Sqn.
bright and early on Saturday morning with a PFA. Being in
Wales as per usual it was raining! The early start and wet
weather didn’t seem to hinder anybody as some brilliant
results were achieved. LCpl ‘Press-up King’ Roberts managed
112 press-ups followed closely by Sgt ‘The Machine’ McSween
who managed 105. LCpl ‘The Stud’ Beasley Wood, who
managed 101 press-ups had a run time of 8 mins 26 sec which
got him into the 300 club. The females also performed well
with Capt Lucy Sewell achieving an excellent run time. As we
had been training prior to the PFA, many of us managed to
achieve personal bests, including myself, cutting a minute off
my best time.
Sig Williams nursing LCpl McDonalds leg wound
Once we had hit the showers, we headed over to St Athens to
complete the rest of our practical testing which included
BCDT, map reading, a trip to the ranges and a good gassing in
the CBRN chamber. All testing was successful and everyone
returned to Ty Llewellyn with a smile on their faces knowing
they had taken a giant step towards achieving their bounty.
The evening arrived and it was time for some bonding. The
seniors went out for a meal and played skittles before joining
the rest of us who had headed into town for a few alcoholic
beverages. We were lucky enough to witness SSM Cash’s
dancing; Michael Flatley eat you’re heart out!
Rising on the Sunday morning some of us were not so brighteyed and bushy-tailed. All that remained was to under-go our
Values and Standards, C-IED, and other such important
lessons. Many ethical issues and important reminders were
presented to us and Sig Barrett shared her extensive
knowledge of drug slang names with us!
Overall the weekend was a great success and enjoyable for all
that took part. A big thank you to all those that instructed
throughout the weekend, and we at 53 Si Sqn look forward to
being hosted by the other Sqns in due course.
TA TRAINING – 9/10 JULY – by Sig Iles
Ex GLOBAL MATTs 1 saw members of 37 Sig Regt congregate
in Cardiff to conduct MATT training. 53 Sig Sqn were the
hosts and welcomed the other Sqn members with open arms.
This rare event of having Sqns come together to complete
their MATTS allowed individuals to bond and see how the
better half lives.
With our guests travelling and arriving safe and sound on the
Friday night, we were able to start the weekend’s training
65
38th (STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS)
SIGNAL REGIMENT (VOLUNTEERS)
SHEFFIELD
CO
RSM Lt Col A J Parsons
WO1 (RSM) S Hook
Welcome: The Regiment welcomes WO1 Hook who has taken
over as the RSM.
OC
SSM
Maj MC Fisher
WO2 (SSM) Gott
ARMED FORCES DAY 25TH JUNE – BANBURY
- by LCpl Ian Hackford
805 Signals Troop, - The Queens Own Oxfordshire Hussars, formed up on the parade square outside Banbury Territorial
Army Centre for a last rehearsal before marching into Banbury
to take part in the Armed Forces Day celebrations. Numbers
were bolstered by the arrival of colleagues from the Bletchley
and Rugby Tps of 1 Sig Sqn (V). After the usual sizing off,
shouting and stamping, the troops fell out for a well earned
rest, and retired to the Churchill Bar for the traditional toasts
of Taylors Port to the Queen and the enduring memory of the
Queens Own Oxfordshire Hussars.
Wisdom and experience dictated that we needed a little more
warming up before the parade, so post port we set off
marching as a squad for Banbury town centre. After 20 yards
SSgt Mark Taylor began a steady refrain of “Pte Shaun
Walker, get in step and Walker, this is your last chance”. It is
a long march with a grand entrance towards the Town Hall,
and as we approached the gathering crowds, their eyes
turned to watch. Staff Taylor ceased chastising Pte Walker
and commanded that we “dig the heels in and be proud”. A
command scarcely needed as like all soldiers we love being
watched by attentive crowds. By the time we came to a halt
the majority of us were marching in time!
At the form up point in Market Square we were joined by The
Sea Cadets, the Royal British Legion, The Army Cadets, the
Band of the RAF Cadet Force, and a contingent of veterans
and serving members of the Armed Forces who happened to
be in Banbury at the time.
We formed up behind the Band. After a short delay Staff
Taylor, a resonant tenor, called the parade to attention.
There was tension in the air, as most of us remembered last
year, which way would we turn? “Parade will turn to the left,
left turn”. So with no need for last year’s about turn we were
ready to go! The band began to play “Colonel Bogey”, Staff
Taylor called us to march in column of route and we all
stepped off in time - well most of us! The route was about a
mile in length up Parson’s Street, left on Horse Fair, and left
again at Banbury Cross to march down the High Street. The
troop commanders gave the eyes right to their respective
commands, saluting the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire and
the Mayor just before wheeling right into Broad Street for an
expertly executed halt and fall out. The people of Banbury
made us feel proud; they had lined the streets in considerable
numbers and showed their support with vigorous applause.
Their applause was matched by their generosity to the Help
for Heroes charity which raised over £1000 at our recruiting
stand, faithfully manned by Cpl Steph Quantrell and Sig Joan
Simmons.
The day did not quite end then as the Town Mayor of Banbury
had laid on a reception in the Town Hall. The hot pasties and
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beer were warmly received and the event gave us chance to
mix with veterans and made a fine end to an outstanding day.
As an epilogue, a week after the parade we were able to
revue some Banbury CCTV footage of the march. The eyes
right was snappy, and the marching in step, with one
exception, who is still, despite the evidence, protesting his
innocence. This was also followed up with a great picture of
the ‘Eyes Right’ appearing in the Banbury Guardian.
VRSM PRESENTATIONS
The CO presented Volunteer Reserve Service Medals during
his formal visit to 1 Sig Sqn in May 2011 to Cpl Hayley
Richardson and Cpl Steve Bennett.
Cpl Bennett VRSM
During his visit in June 2011, the Bde Comd presented a
Volunteer Reserve Service Medal to Cpl Dan Yates. After the
presentation the Bde Comd also promoted Cpl Yates to Sgt.
Sgt Yates VRSM
OC SSM Maj JR Stillie
WO2 (SSM) Smith
EXERCISE HIGHLAND CHALLENGE (11-12 Jun 11)
- by SSgt Devonport
Ex HIGHLAND CHALLENGE is a demanding tabbing
competition, run by 2 Sig Sqn (V) in the Highlands of Scotland.
How does it start? Normally with “Congratulations, from a
cast of thousands you have been selected to represent the
Sqn this weekend”. The invitation came via the OC Sqn Maj
Jim Stillie - “Staff, guess what? You’re in the team”. The
team captain, SSgt George Callander, gave me the brief; we
were not only going to do the event but the route recce
beforehand, the weekend prior to the event. So 17 miles
doubled to 34! Although this wasn’t a problem – the weather
forecast was favourable (not bad for Scotland) and we were
only carrying bimble kit - I even had some oatcake left over
from Race The Sun.
The route recce went well with SSgt Malcolm Forbes and LCpl
Smith leading. We achieved our aim, however suffered a
casualty and our team was now incomplete. SSgt Kev
McLean stepped into the breach, eating bananas as if they
were going out of fashion and drinking isotonic solutions in
the same manner. The team now consisted of SSgts
Callander, Devonport, Forbes and McLean, Cpls Wiggin and
John, LCpl Smith and Sig Morris, who only came back to the
TA the previous Tuesday drill night. The weather started wet
and got wetter - the higher we went, the worse the
conditions became, but we could see the team in front of us
(41 Sig Sqn (V)) so we dug deep and whittled down their lead
to a couple of hundred metres. Unfortunately disaster struck
and SSgt Mclean was injured. We were determined to finish
but could no longer compete for the best overall time. We
came across the line just under 5 hrs, but as a team.
MAN SV DRIVER FAMILIARISATION TRAINING (CATTERICK)
With the writing on the wall for the majority of the DAF Fleet,
we needed to get people qualified to drive the MAN SV, so we
could get them to our unit and then cascade training to
others. WO2 Dave Honeyman attended the Train the Trainer
course and SSgt Don Brennan, SSgt Ian Devonport and Sgt
Iain Briggs went to Catterick to take part in the Bde Dvr Trg
Concentration. MAN SV…..what a difference! No more
discomfort and shouting at each other because of the engine
noise, but instead cruise control, automatic and manual gear
box and a digital dashboard! OK, so it has a massive blind
spot but we can work round that! All in all great piece of kit.
Even the MT is getting digitised, progress is good!
CO’S DEVELOPMENT DAY 13 – 14 JUL (BLETCHLEY)
With the training year well underway, the CO decreed that the
permanent staff needed developing (and a social) and SSgt
Paul Coxon was tasked to sort it out. After several date and
agenda changes the location was set at Bletchley. We set off
early from Dundee to get the early flight to Luton and were
met by SSgt Coxon. Once we were settled into our luxury
accommodation and fed by Sgt Karen Dilley and her team, we
were off to the Bletchley Park or Station ‘X’ for a tour of the
location. After a thoroughly enjoyable, informative tour, the
social side of the visit started making use of the bar facilities
at 1 Sig Sqn (V).
WO2 Collins – Back to the Jetty!
The next morning was a visit to the water skiing cable tow at
Willen Park, a short distance from the TAC. Several members
of the permanent staff excelled at the sport and others just
looked good with wake boards or water skis over the
shoulder!! Co-ordination was clearly an issue, particularly for
Capt John Hughes, the ROSO who did better being towed
without his skis! All you could see was a red and black blur
being pulled at 30 mph head first into the lake and the shouts
of ARRRRRRRGHHHHH! All in all, a good break from DII.
2 Sig Sqn (V) Permanent Staff – Looking Good!
41 (PRINCESS LOUISE’S KENSINGTON) SIGNAL SQUADRON
(VOLUNTEERS)
OC A/SSM
Maj W Bennett
SSgt S May
EXERCISE BROKEN BACH
Maj Henry Taylor delivered another excellent adventure
training package across the Black Mountains in preparation
for the Sqn’s expedition to the Gran Paridisio later in the year.
Three teams set off from various bivvie sites across the Black
Mountains in order to RV at the not insubstantial base camp/
admin site ably manned by SSgt Gary Baker, SSgt Dave
Holman and Sig Glenn Bucket. Unsurprisingly Cpl Ian
Hopkins’ team romped home first in a blisteringly fast time,
followed by C Troop and rounded up by a mixed team of SHQ
elements and operators who would have done better if they
hadn’t stopped for afternoon tea in a pub only 800m from the
finish.
Special mention to LCpl Samantha Murkin who tabbed the
whole distance carrying the SHQ team Bowman and did it
with such enthusiasm that no-one dared asked her if she
wanted to give it up!
EXERCISE HIGHLAND MILITARY CHALLENGE
Maj Tex Bennett, backed up by the SPSI SSgt Andy Williams
took a team of intrepid warriors north of the border and gave
a good account of themselves in the 2 Sig Sqn organised
event! Sgt Cory Pennicott, Cpl Carol McMillan, Cpl Dave
Neilson, LCpl Chris Mendes, Lcpl Samantha Murkin and Sig
Oscar Searle even managed a smile at the end of 18 miles of
bergen bashing over some of Scotland’s stunning scenery,
even if they did look a little like drowned rats at the end. This
certainly looks like an annual fixture in the Squadron calendar
now and there is lots of enthusiasm for returning next year
and trying for a slightly higher placed finish.
EXERCISE HORSESHOE HURDLE
Capt Matt Cahill and Lt Amanda Washbrook set off for
Blandford in order to join the CO, Lt Col Andy Parsons , and
Adjutant, Capt Andi Leathem, at the annual Brigade junior
67
officers’ conference. Again this proved to be a useful
opportunity for focus on Brigade and Army wide issues whilst
developing team building with in the Officers’ Mess.
Some of the highlights included the 2IC’s impression of
Thomas the Tank Eengine at the end of the Saturday morning
run/TCUP and the Adjutant’s dubious refereeing decision
during a friendly game of rounders, when a no ball had clearly
been called!
Sunday started with what can only be described as Contact
Basketball and credit must go to the PTI on keeping both his
cool and control (mostly) of the game. In amongst all this
was a series of lectures and discussions on matters such as
the future shape of the Corps, cyber security, the First Aid
Nursing Yeomanry and operational leadership.
64 (CITY OF SHEFFIELD) SIGNAL SQUADRON (VOLUNTEERS)
OC SSM
Maj K M Flanagan
SSgt B ROSS
ADVENTURE TRAINING - by LCpl M Morley
The weekend started with everyone meeting up at
Nottingham TAC. Several beers later and a supply run was
needed to replenish the rapidly depleting stock.
The following morning, we got on the transport to head out
to Sherwood Pines where we were split into groups for the
various activities. Some went for a walk, whilst others went
cycling. My group got to monkey around in trees with Go
Ape. Some travelled further up north into the Dark Peak area
of Derbyshire to visit Blue John Caverns, near Mam Tor and
Castleton.
Go Ape was great fun. It is effectively an assault
“confidence” course up in the trees. We received a harness
and a safety brief and were taught how to secure ourselves to
the safety cables round the course. The “top heavy” (yes that
is what he said) members of our group were given an extra
harness for the top of our bodies. At first I was a little miffed
and embarrassed as I am a rock climber, however after a little
while in the harness I was given I was relieved. I kept finding
myself tightening the leg straps as they were slipping.
After Go Ape and the respective bike ride and walking we
went to Edwinstowe and Sherwood Forest, home of Robin
Hood and the Major Oak. Lt Pearson, Sig Smyth, Sig Fawcett
and I had a go at the Archery near the Major Oak. It seems
that it doesn’t matter which weapon I use I am still not a
great shot. And yes Sir, I will pay you next time I see you.
After a pub meal we headed back to Nottingham TAC for a
shower and change into a fresh set of clothes. BBQ time!
Again the chefs pulled out the all the stops and put on a
fantastic spread. It was definitely one of the best BBQs whilst
I have been with the TA. Thank you.
With everybody suitably refreshed, the entertainment started
and the bar opened. The entertainment took the form of
some photos from the previous Military Skills weekend where
a very unlucky Cpl Hewitt broke his arm. This was followed up
by video of the wildlife in the trees of Go Ape, filmed by none
other than our very own SSM ‘Attenborough’ Ross. There
was a lot of un-military like girly screaming, the majority or
which was coming from the males surprisingly, especially Cpl
James!!
The weekend concluded with a brief on the Sunday morning
from the Regt 2IC, Maj Powell, about High Readiness Reserve
which I believe the majority signed up to. All in all I believe
that everybody had a great time and those who couldn’t
make it truly missed a great weekend.
46 (HALLAMSHIRE) SUPPORT SQUADRON (VOLUNTEERS)
OC SSM Maj J M Hattersley
WO2 (SSM) J A Medley
MATTS WEEKEND – RIPON - by Sgt T Pinches
The weekend began a little differently to normal as local MP,
Meg Munn visited the Regt to meet the soldiers and officers
and gain a better understanding of the TA. She was also
treated to a formal Mess Dinner, prepared and cooked by our
UCM/Chef SSgt Ann Gibson, with the waiting on overseen by
Sgt Trish Pinches. Immediately after dinner and the clear up,
46 Support Sqn left for MATTS training at Ripon, arriving in
the early hours and desperate for sleep after an exhausting
evening.
Meg Munn MP is treated to a formal Mess Dinner
Starting at 0800hrs, the soldiers did BCD and Map Reading.
Sgt Pinches took the soldiers through basic life support,
whilst WO2 Barry Baldwin took those who had previously
passed MATT 3 through map reading.
Unfortunately some individuals weren’t as capable of finding
their way as first anticipated, but following a retest, found
their way to the pass mark - well done guys! Sgt Steve
Kitchen then took the troops out for the dreaded CFT and
everyone got through with little or no injuries. He then went
on to test on the BCD scenario.
64 Sig Sqn (V) Adventure Training
68
The troops were sent on a patrol, but were attacked and had
to deal with the enemy before continuing. They then came
across a Landrover, its occupants in need of immediate First
Aid. The driver was slumped over the steering wheel with a
head wound and unable to breath and the passenger had
been thrown from the vehicle and was unconscious with an
arm injury. WO2 Tommy Simpson had a broken leg. After a
quick appreciation, the appropriate treatment was
administered and some miraculous recoveries were made.
Later, WO1 Horton took MATT 9, CIED training and Maj Carr
LOAC and Values and Standards.
On the Sunday the soldiers were driven out to the ranges, run
by WO2 (SSM) Andy Medley who got everyone through the
shoot with no problems. WO2 Vic Worrall then ran MATT 4,
CBRN before we left to return home. So once again, all in all
it was a successful weekend for those in attendance, and
more ticks in the boxes.
RECENT PROMOTIONS:
Congratulations to Sgt Ann Gibson for her recent promotion
to SSgt. Well done, it was very well deserved.
39th (SKINNERS) SIGNAL REGIMENT (VOLUNTEERS)
BRISTOL
CO
RSM
Lt Col D M Sharkey
WO1 (RSM) D Lythe
The last few months have seen the Regt involved in a frenzy
of varied activities; Lanyard training, Comms Plug-ups, HFT
training, Armed Forces Day and Trade Camp have been but a
few activities we have enjoyed over the summer. Meanwhile
RHQ welcomed back the RSM from his 2 week challenging
Corps Football tour to Brazil – not that he mentions it much!
Regtl Ops have been kept busy planning for Annual Camp –
initially planned for Warcop, we were then informed we
would be training elsewhere and so started looking at
Northern Ireland due to range allocation. This plan only
survived contact for a matter of weeks before we were told
to go back to the drawing board. All personnel are now
looking forward to 2 weeks of Scottish weather and midgies
in September as we have been allocated space in Barry
Buddon!
56 SIGNAL SQUADRON - EASTBOURNE
OC
SSM Major K M Francis
W)2 (SSM) G Windham
The Sqn would like to welcome SSgt Gav Inns who joins us
from SHAPE as out PSI (T). Welcome back to 39 Sig Regt (V)
and we hope you enjoy your time with us in Eastbourne.
In June, 884 Sig Tp, Brighton, hosted their annual summer
dinner which was attended by past and present members of
the Sqn. The Tp was pleased to welcome the Mayor of
Brighton and Hove, Cllr Anne Meadows, as the guest of
honour. The event was a chance for Troop Commander, Lt
Chris Kong, to thank the Tp for all their hard work over the
year and to say farewell to LCpl Craig Tonge who leaves us
after 5 years’ service with the Sqn.
We all wish him the best and encourage him to not be a
stranger to all the social functions. We also bid farewell,
though only on a temporary basis, to LCpl Pat Mays who is
moving to Reading for his civilian work and will happily remain
in the Regt in 94 Sqn. Whilst it is always sad to see Sqn
members move on we know they will remain part of our close
family. The Sqn also hosted Comd 2 Sig Bde, Brig Vickery,
who presented LCpl Mark Kemp with his Soldier of the Year
award.
Soldier of the Year
have now both passed their RMQ courses, and LCpl Michael
Scott is a Class 1 Combat Medic Technician. Sig Daniella Hays
is moving to 858 in order to become a Medic, whilst Sig Aaron
Ball starts his chef training.
Recruiting continues to be our main effort and we are pleased
to see 4 recruits successfully complete Saxon Challenge at
Pirbright. This TSA Alpha course runs in lieu of the 6 RT cycle
weekends and comprises a 12 day initial training course.
Recruits Gendre, Goddard, Packham and Saunders are now all
booked on or are currently completing their CMSR which will
see them enter the Sqn as fully trained soldiers by the end of
the year.
Finally congratulations go to LCpl Linford Millen and his
girlfriend on the birth of their first child, a baby girl named
Elsie. All at the Sqn send best wishes to the whole family.
57 (CITY AND COUNTY OF BRISTOL) SIGNAL SQUADRON
OC
SSM
Maj P Rodenhurst
WO2 (SSM) R Sharp
Although the OC has been away for a couple of months now,
things are continuing well for the Sqn. We had a good turn
out on the Regtl comms training and our Tuesday night
program has been varied enough to please most people.
859 and 884 Tps continue to grow in strength. 859 welcomes
10 newly traded Class 3 CS Ops: Sig Jason Andrews assumes
the role of CST Comd with Sig Jake Cole as 2I/C. Sig Chester
Sage walks straight into a role as Bowman Det Comd with Sig
Sussex as 2I/C whilst Cpl Ben Carter is on Op TOSCA. In 884
there are 7 recruits under training including recruit Chris Davis
who becomes our newest potential TAPO.
I’d like to welcome SSgt Kev Meek, who has recently joined
the Sqn as our SPSI. This should allow our PSI (T) SSgt Del
Richards, who has done an amazing job at filling the position,
to get back to his technical role and help spread the work
between the permanent staff.
Over in 858 we welcome Sig Tim Haines who has transferred
into the VE slot. LCpl Linford Millen and Cpl Tom Rossi-Flint
Ex BRUNEL EXPLORER was a demanding NAVEX which took
place in the rugged terrain of Dartmoor. With a map, a
EXERCISE BRUNEL EXPLORER – by Sig Adam Morris
69
compass and a bearing
we were dropped on a
hill engulfed in fog. My
partner and I began our
travels over the first hill,
with morale high, ready
to take on any challenge.
As the morning went on
the fog began to clear
and the sun started to
come out. In its own
weather zone Dartmoor
decided to not make it
easy and as quick as the
sun came so did the rain
and winds, soaking us
straight through.
As the day went on the
SSgt Wells Enjoying the Walk
sores began to start
appearing with the
bumpy landscape and the legs began to stiffen. We were
greeted near the end with a drink and a chocolate bar as a
boost, before taking on another hill to get to camp. Finally
we were able to change our clothes and dry our feet before
settling down in 2 12x12 tents for a good night’s sleep…or so
we thought. Dartmoor once again had a trick up its sleeve by
unleashing on the tents, with rain getting into any possible
hole it could find to try and get us wet.
The next morning, not quite as bright as the morning before,
we came out with our heads up to take on the final challenges
ahead of us. With only a
short distance to go it was
to be a walk in the park. The
rain, however, had decided
to submerge our one route
across a river. Some of the
group undeterred, jumped
straight in with their goal in
sight. The rest of us
however decided to look for
an alternative route. This
was not to be and so with a
poke to check the depth we
all waded through the river
and off to the next
checkpoint. Despite the
weather, this was a
thoroughly enjoyable yet
Nice Weather For Camping!
challenging weekend.
93 (NORTH SOMERSET YEOMANRY) SUPPORT SQUADRON BRISTOL
OC
SSM
Maj PJ Smith
WO2 (SSM) C Stockwell
WELCOME
All members of the Sqn would like to extend a very warm
welcome to our new Honorary Colonel, Brig Tom Lang, QVRM
RD* FRICS DL, whog joins us after a long and distinguished
military career and we were pleased to host him during
training on 12 Jul 11.
Also joining the Sqn is SSgt (Art Veh) Criddle who joins us
from Bordon into the position of Regt Art Veh. A warm
welcome to Bristol to you and the family. With arrivals often
come departures and this is no exception – we would like to
farewell to SSgt (Art Veh) McCulloch who is off to BATUS on
promotion to enjoy life on the prairie! We wish him and his
family all the very best.
70
EXERCISE LYNX MERCURY 1 – by Capt Dave Davies
Ex LYNX MERCURY 1 took place over the weekend 10 – 12
June. It was a Regtl FTX designed to PACEX all elements of
the Regt in preparation for the 2 Sig Bde FTX in September,
and took place at Longmoor Camp in Hampshire.
Saturday morning was used as a complete equipment check
for all comms elements, to ensure that all equipment had
been correctly loaded and assembled. This was used as a
revision period for all personnel, with the emphasis on newly
qualified signallers and those who for one reason or another,
had not had ‘hands on’ the kit for some time. The Regtl FofS
SSgt (FofS) Dave Lloyd and YofS WO2 (YofS) Tommy Tucker
were on hand to answer technical queries and assist where
necessary.
After lunch, it was time to put signalling skills into practice,
and detachments were sent to various locations around the
training area, to set up, establish comms, pass various
information, then break down and move to other locations to
begin the process again. This exercise proved very useful in
re-acquainting everybody with the various skills, tasks and
procedures required of the various types of communications
asset within the Regt.
EXERCISE WESSEX SPANNER - by Capt Andy Morris
This exercise was an equipment care weekend and took place
over the weekend 15 – 17 July. The main effort for the
weekend was to complete a brake system modification to the
entire Regt’s holding of 20 or so Penman trailers, at Sqn TACs
spread over the whole of Southern England (Bristol, Windsor,
Gloucester, Eastbourne & Brighton).
On completion of the modification, all trailers would require a
brake test carrying a load of 750Kg. There is no purpose built
test rig to ensure that the correct load was applied over the
axle and stayed in place when the brakes were applied. So
metal smith Cpl Rich Brown designed and fabricated a special
container that could be positively located and quickly fixed in
the correct place in the trailer, braced to prevent the load
moving when the brake was applied, and quickly transferred
from trailer to trailer. This piece of first class engineering was
a major factor in ensuring that the task was successfully
completed. Very well done Cpl Brown!
This was quite a full weekend’s work. Modification work in
Bristol was supervised by Sgt Andy Gray, whilst the OC LAD,
Capt Andy Morris, visited the locations at Windsor &
Eastbourne to ensure the work was going to plan, and to
become more acquainted with his outstation staff. The other
tasks in the signals, medical and clerical areas were also
completed, and there was even time to fit in a function on the
Saturday evening organised by the SSM, WO2 (SSM) Chris
Stockwell. Quite a successful weekend all round!
94 (BERKSHIRE YEOMANRY) SIGNAL SQUADRON - WINSDOR
OC
SSM
Maj A Hawes
WO2 (SSM) C Dean
Two key Sqn comms exercises have largely defined the focus
over the last few months. Both exercised different elements
of the UK Ops comms suite but within a more contemporary
operating environment which ensured that all members of
the Sqn were exercised in a range of skills – with an
opportunity to work within a Forward Operating Base
environment.
Training in military skills in the Sqn has received a boost with
our new SPSI SSgt Paul Robertson who arrived in July. With a
wealth of experience he threw himself straight into the Sqn
exercises and made an instant impact. We look forward to his
training over his tour with us. With our new SPSI in place we
thank Sgt Sonja McCoy for all her efforts in filling that post
whist it was gapped.
Looking forward the next bit event is the Regtl Annual Camp
up in Scotland and alongside this is our own effort towards
the national Territorial Army recruiting push. A busy time
ahead at all levels.
EXERCISE CASTLE COMMS II
Forming up on the Friday evening and deploying with
Bowman detachments and man packs the Sqn took over a
Forward Operating Base in the Longmoor training area for the
weekend. Saturday morning was taken up with refresher
training in both comms and patrolling skills and drills, moving
into a comms phase with a tactical component throughout
the afternoon. Some valuable work was done in gaining more
experience in the Bowman detachments during that time and
all added to the growing body of knowledge within the Sqn.
by WO2 Steve Hall who worked with a dedicated team of Sqn
members to promote our work to the local community. It is a
useful additional recruiting event as well as a chance to
socialise with other military associations. The Redoubt
Fortress began as a fortress against Napoleon’s threat in the
1800s, it remained a garrison into the 1900s and again during
WWII. It has a close relationship with the Sqn, we even
cleared the entire (disused) moat of a year’s worth of public
rubbish one weekend last year. In return the Sqn has its own
museum display…well we had to put the clansman kit
somewhere!
With the scenario building up the detachments were brought
back in and the exercise moved on to a patrols phase with
SSgt Steve Collins leading the soldiers out on the ground.
Skills and drills were put to the test, both in moving through
challenging, mixed terrain and in the contact scenarios.
Sunday morning brought a rude awakening with an attack on
the base itself being the alarm clock for most of the soldiers.
This initial incident dealt with there were a series of ‘stand to’
and small contacts until Lt Mark Craster led a section out to
deal with the situation, all in typically aggressive style. A good
and varied weekend was had by all, with some good training,
the ability to put that into practice and some good Bowman
experience all thrown into the mix.
ARMED FORCES DAY
The Regt was proud to fly our flags all over the South of
England during this year’s Armed Forces Day celebrations.
Ideally suited to the TA (as it involves working on a Saturday!),
this event provided excellent opportunities for us to show off
to the public. Here are a few examples of what some of our
troops got up to on the day:
AFD EASTBOURNE – by Lt Stephanie Barron
Advertise
Members of the Sqn celebrated Armed Forces Weekend with
events at the Redoubt Fortress in Eastbourne. The Fortress is
the only military museum in Eastbourne area and it stages
many local military events in support of serving troops and
Service Families. The weekend encompassed recruiting
stands, local cadet displays, WWII re-enactments, the ABF and
other veteran associations as well as the Drumhead Church
service on the Sunday morning. The Sqn involvement was led
Recruiting a new breed of soldier
AFD BRISTOL - by LCpl Simon Hartfield
For Armed Forces Day, 57 Sqn, along with 93 Sqn, joined the
Recruiting Tp to show the public some of the things we do in
Bristol. Having taken over College Green in the centre of
Bristol, alongside other Reserve Units, we prepared for a day
of engaging with the public to talk about our role.
Unfortunately, the weather throughout the day remained
overcast, and while it was dry, there were not as many people
in attendance as we had hoped, although numbers did pick up
towards the end of the day as the weather got better. We
were very also very privileged to greet several VIP visitors
throughout the day.
57 Sig Sqn on College Green
TRADE CAMP 16-29 JULY 2011 – by Lt Joanna Murray
39 Sig Regt (V) was proud to run the second 2 Sig Bde Trade
Camp of 2011 at Swynnerton Camp, Staffordshire from the
16th-29th July 2011. Forty eight soldiers from 2 Sig Bde
completed their Phase 1 of Comms Systems Operator (V) Class
3, with another 4 successfully completing the new Royal
Signals Electrician (V) course.
71
Sig Appleton, Team Player
Throughout the course, students were put through intense
sessions of theory and practical lessons. For some, meeting
Bowman for the first time was discombobulating, but once
they got ‘hands on’ with the kit, everything fell smartly into
place. Over the 2 weeks students became adept at voice
procedure, mast
erection, antenna
assembly, understanding
the principles of
Electronic Warfare,
stripping generators and
much more.
Sig Gregory – Top Student
We were also very
pleased to see
improvements in
individual fitness
standards over the
fortnight. Specifically,
congratulations go to
latest additions to the
‘300 club,’ Sig Bowe
from 57 Sig Sqn and Sig
Bridger from 56 Sig Sqn.
Well done and look
forward to receiving
your T-Shirts soon.
On the final day of
Sig Humphry – Best Endeavour
camp, the Bde Comd, Brig Vickery, presented a framed
certificate and TRF to each soldier passing off the course: a
proud moment for all involved. Three distinct prizes were
awarded and issued with one of the Brigadier’s coveted coins.
The ‘Top Student’ shield, along with coin, was awarded to Sig
Gregory from 71 Sig Regt (V). Sig Gregory passed the CS Op
(V) course with flying colours: her ambition, commitment and
enthusiasm an inspiration to everyone on the course and
indeed to every TA soldier. ‘Best Endeavour’ was awarded to
Sig Humphrey from 37 Sig Regt (V), completing the RSE
course, for his continual effort and improvement. It was a
clear cut decision to award Sig Appleton from 39 Sig Regt (V)
the ‘Team Player’ award for his unswerving support and help
to others.
LANYARD TROPHY 2011 TRAINING - by Sig Jake Cole
This time last year if someone were to tell me that I would be
entering a competition (the hardest in the Corps so I’m told)
which involved a team of 8 soldiers tabbing for 40miles each
carrying 40lbs in a bergan, I would not have believed them!…
Well… now here I am one year later, as part of this year’s
A-team for 39SR!
We have trained for quite a few weekends now with the
majority of our training taking place around the South Downs.
This is an area that can have 4 seasons in a day and it certainly
helps you prepare for all kinds of weather - you quickly learn
what kit to keep handy and what spares to carry with you!
The Staff and Students of Trade Camp with Brig Vickery
72
Lanyard Training is great for fitness, for the unique banter and
it gets you outside. We are aiming to beat lasts year’s time…
so watch this space… but most of all wish us luck, I’m sure
we will need it to defend the title!
Enjoying the Weather
The last set of smiles
71st (CITY OF LONDON) YEOMANRY SIGNAL REGIMENT
BEXLEYHEATH
CO
RSM Lt Col CR Sutherland
WO1 (RSM) D Graham
71st (City of London) Yeomanry Signal Regiment (Volunteers)
would like to welcome SSgt (FofS) Nik Savchenko and his
wife, Sally. He arrives from HQ SOinC (A) in Blandford and
brings with him recent operational experience, having just
come back from Afghanistan. The Regt are keen to support
Op ENTIRETY and have LCpl’s Michael and Ward away on Op
TOSCA. Capt Stuart Thomas has been detached in support of
Op ELLAMY, whilst LCpl’s Gorman and Fox, along with Sig
Ashton, have deployed on Ex PRAIRIE THUNDER in support of
The LONDONS in preparation for Op HERRICK 18. Regt Ops
organised and conducted Ex PHOENIX GALLOP, a comms
weekend, which was the CO and RSMs first experience of a
TA training weekend. Subsequently, SSgt Marshall organised
Ex PHOENIX KESTRAL which was a Regt led MATTs weekend,
where the Permanent Staff smashed out a PFA and 8 mile AFT
in the same day. In the coming months, RHQ are planning for
Annual Camp, Ex OLYMPICS and are continuing to support Op
ENTIRETY.
EXERCISE COCKNEY PHOENIX VENTURE
– by SSgt (FofS) Savchenko
Ex COCKNEY PHOENIX VENTURE was a three day adventure
training package for the SNCO regular staff of 71 Y Sig Regt
(V) conducted during the period 25-28 Jul 11. The Ex was
conducted in and around the area of the Snowdonia National
Park under control of 30 Cadet Training Team (CTT).The aim of
the exercise was to develop leadership, teamwork and
interpersonal skills in a challenging and demanding
environment.
The first day involved rock climbing which was indeed
demanding, particularly for SSgt ‘Gaz’ Little who had possibly
over indulged the previous night and had turned green by mid
morning. Everyone participated and achieved great results.
SSgt Charlie ‘Spiderman’ Hart even managed to climb at least
3 feet on one occasion. Best results for the day had to go to
Sgt Jackie Morse who made it to the top of almost every
climb.
Tuesday evening was a quieter affair in light of Wednesday’s
trek up Snowdon. The sun was out and much liquid was
required by all. Even Capt Olly Mcgrail made the walk, a good
effort considering he didn’t really want to be more than 50
metres from a toilet! Everyone reached the summit and
enjoyed the views on what was a near perfect day. The
The team get ready to go off road
73
Moments later the QM, Capt Olly McGrail, did a disappearing
act only to re-appear informing us he had spoken to the
Mayor’s Press Officer to arrange a photo with ‘Boris’. The
only proviso to this was that the Adjt wasn’t invited (too tall). Boris made one of his unique speeches which went down
Lt Sean Olohan smiles for the camera before the descent
The QM, RSM and RQMS(V) seize the moment
extremely well with the entire audience and made for
amusing listening. No sooner had the speech finished the QM
was up to seize the opportunity. He quickly beckoned over
the RSM and RQMS(V), who just happened to be the 2
shortest men in the Regt, and standing alongside Boris, the
job was done.
The evening was an excellent opportunity to engage with
local community leaders in the Bexley area and to keep the
Regt firmly in the public eye within London.
47 (MIDDLESEX YEOMANRY) SIGNAL SQUADRON
(VOLUNTEERS)
The team make it to the summit to enjoy the fantastic view
from Snowdon
descent was much more enjoyable with SSgt (FofS) Nik
Savchenko and SSgt Andi Carnegie taking a dip in one of the
rather cold lakes.
The final day was spent mountain biking in Llandegla Forest.
This proved to be a very enjoyable experience and finished
the week off perfectly. Lt Sean ‘Competitive Dad’ Olohan
made every attempt to be at the front but after being on the
receiving end of much ribbing decided to blend into the
middle of the pack. The weather was perfect and the mood
only dampened by the 6 hour drive back to Bexleyheath.
Overall a fantastic few days in Wales, which were thoroughly
enjoyed by all involved.
THE GREATER LONDON AUTHORITY COMMUNITY
RECEPTION – by Capt Olly McGrail
In maintaining the tradition of keeping the Regt in the public
eye, a small group of the Regt’s staff where invited to attend
the Greater London Authority Community Reception, held at
City Hall. This was an opportunity for the Mayor, Boris
Johnson, to thank the local services, businesses and charity
organisers for their assistance over the previous 12 months.
The visit began with the inevitable mission of getting to the
event during the early evening rush hour traffic. The one way
systems and sporadic Sat Nav directions resulted in us arriving
in good military fashion with 5 minutes to spare. Heading for
the security checkpoint and metal detector, the operator
gave us one look and waved us through due to the impressive
display of awards glistening off the RSM’s chest!
After registration we found ourselves in the Lord Mayors
offices making the most of the readily available refreshments. 74
OC
SSM
Maj David Cornick
WO2 Marc Gilfrin
It has been another busy period for the Sqn with soldiers
being involved in a number of different activities. The Sqn
welcomed a visit from Lt Col Craig Sutherland the new CO of
71 (City of London) Yeomanry Sig Regt. The visit provided an
excellent opportunity to demonstrate the positive steps taken
by Sgt Pat Coleman and Sgt Sophie Spittle to ensure that
interesting and relevant training was taking place on Tuesday
nights. The visit also provided a further opportunity for Sgt
John Palmer to demonstrate his excellent culinary skills with
another of his famous buffets. Finally the CO had the
opportunity to meet a number of the Sqn members for the
first time since taking over command.
EXERCISE PHOENIX KESTRAL
The Regtl MATTs weekend in July provided an excellent
opportunity to put to the test all the refresher training the
Sqn had undertaken in preparation for the weekend. The
effectiveness of the training was evident in the low number of
MATT failures, with the vast majority of the soldiers who
attended, passing all their MATTs. The highlight of the
weekend, apart form the driving rain all day, was Sgt Spittle’s
excellent lesson at the CBRN stand before being marched into
the gas chamber to undertake a variety of different drills. The
weekend provided an excellent opportunity for some Sqn
bonding in the NAAFI on Saturday night with a number of
interesting bar games being played. The effects of this
bonding were however not evident on Sunday morning with
all fit member of the Sqn passing their AFT. In all an enjoyable
weekend with a lot of valuable training completed.
EXERCISE AMPHEX SOUTH 11
The weekend started off with Sgt Coleman, Sig Hone and Sig
Banks meeting at Southfields TAC where the Royal Marine
Reserves were waiting to brief them on the weekend’s
events. The RMR are required to complete an annual
amphibious exercise, however our Middlesex Yeomanry team
were oblivious to what this actually entailed! Sgt Coleman
went through the comms plan with the RMR SNCO’s whilst
Sig Banks struggled to get his bergen onto the coach. The
Friday night was fairly uneventful but this wasn’t a sign of
things to come!
After a lay in, our team were woken up on Saturday morning
to a slow start, but none of them were prepared for what was
about to transpire. In order to be allowed to conduct the
coming exercise, all troops must pass the anti-capsize drill.
This involved a 3m controlled water entry with boots and all.
After a short swim to the waiting Rib Raider, a difficult haul
onto the craft and the fun began.
Once all team members were aboard, the Rib was capsized
deliberately and the team had to climb onto the bottom of
the upside down craft and hoist it over as a team. Not being
a fan of open water, Sgt Coleman offered to film the antics as
they unfolded.
The next step was to advance the training further and our
team spent the rest of the morning practicing landing drills
from the Rib Raider, Orca and LC (Landing Craft), each one
proved more exciting than the last. By the time they had
practiced on each of the craft, they were drenched but the
sun was shining and we had merged well into the squads.
68 (INNS OF COURT & CITY AND ESSEX YEOMANRY) SIGNAL
SQUADRON (VOLUNTEERS)
OC
SSM
Maj Alex Downing
WO2 (SSM) J Paton
EXERCISE DEVILS KUKHRI – TRAILWALKER 2011
Trailwalker is a 100km 4 man team challenge across the South
Downs organised by the Gurkhas. Endurance, navigation,
determination and teamwork are all required to complete this
event in under the 30hr cut-off. This year 68 ICCEY Sqn put in a team consisting of SSgt ‘I’m
never doing this again’ Ian Brazier, SSgt Adam Tear, Sgt
Richard Marsh and Cpl Ross Nugent. After a rigorous training
regime, the team started in the 10am start group in relatively
high sprites despite the pouring rain.
Before we knew it we were in the lead of our group and we
started to implement our only plan, which was to run down
hill and walk up hill.... This seemed to be working as we soon
had no one behind us and after a while we started to catch
teams that had started earlier.
After a quick lunch, we had one more event to pass and they
really did save the best until last. The teams boarded the
large LC which was something like those in the opening
sequence of “Saving Private Ryan” and took the craft way out
into the bay. A hot brief on the method of boarding another
craft followed and as the team waited for the boat to stop.
Sgt Coleman took the time to look around at the seated
Marines – why did they look so worried?? It’s not like the boat
was going to be still moving when they jumped over…..or
was it? Imagine a scene from James Bond where the hero
jumps from a moving car on to the bonnet of another at 40
miles an hour. Now imagine 3 foot waves throwing both
crafts about and you’re halfway to what our boys had to
endure. Sgt Coleman went first followed closely by Sig Hone
and just in time to see Sig Banks launch himself off the LC
almost without looking like he’d been doing it for years!
Sgt Richard Marsh leads the way.
From the outset the team realised that this was going to be a
hard day’s work as our trainers got heavier and heavier with
mud and the K’s slid past not as fast as we slid about the trail. After the thrill of the day, Sgt Coleman spent the entire night
digging defensive positions in preparation and took his place
in the mortar pit ready to give the recce party something to
watch. Sig Banks joined the assault party where he put into
practice the previous elements of training. Sig Hone drew the
short straw and was bolted to the HQ element and ended up
running around the most. After the recce party called back
with their intelligence, Sig Bank’s Tp assaulted during an
intense dawn raid.
As the night drew in and our pace slowed we were helped by
the rain stopping and the clouds parting to allow the moon to
light our way. During the longest leg we were met in the
middle of nowhere by ex Sqn member ‘Mad Stu’ Raynor who
had been following our progress. There was bags of aggression and Sgt Coleman was shot
several times as Royal Marines and Signallers ran passed him
as they moved through the enemy position. After half an
hour of fighting, the Marines and Sig Banks broke through
the position and reorganised themselves where the enemy
were told to counter just to check that the Marines were still
prepared, which was quickly repelled and met with fierce
return fire from GPMG and gun boat covering fire. The enemy
were suppressed and Sig Hone’s HQ element quickly ordered
the return to the boats and the exercise drew to a close.
This was the perfect opportunity to provide a service to a
totally different Arm and Service but all 3 have said that
although it was a great one-off, none were in a hurry to run
off and join the Royal Navy!
Excellent support was provided by LCpl Adam Delf and Sig
Gary Mills. Hot drinks, water bottles refilled, maps refolded
and kit sorted out all on the demand of often stony faced and
unthankful competitors. It began to get harder to leave the comfort of the mini bus
every time we stopped and the only thing keeping us going
was the fact that we seemed to hit low points at different
times and could be kept going with a quick joke or piece of
banter. Well, as things looked bad, we took pleasure in the
fact that other teams looked far worse than ours (bad I
know). We got a surprise boost 6 hours in, when we were
asked by another team what our start time was to be told
that they started at 6am! As the sun rose as we left the last checkpoint we pushed hard
to finish the last few K’s and we were treated to a freezing
cold shower as we approached the finish, just to remind us
how it had been earlier. Crossing the finishing line just before
6am after 19hrs 44min we were pleased to finish as the 35th
full team out of over 520 teams and raised over £1500 for
Oxfam and The Gurkha Welfare Trust.
75
demonstrating to the rest of the Regt how to deploy a
detachment in the field with the minimum of fuss. A
“boisterously fun” social evening brought the Saturday to a
close while a short but slick exercise on the Sunday morning
demonstrated that the Sqn was still able to maintain its dual
role of comms and echelon support. A well organised and
efficient turnaround on Sunday afternoon ensured the Sqn
were able to arrive home in plenty of time to fire up those
Summer BBQs with the neighbours…obviously whilst
avoiding the several rain showers that were incoming.
SSgt Brazier & Tear, Sgt Marsh and Cpl Nugent cross the
finish line
The team receive their medals after a gruelling
19hrs 44mins race
265 (KENT AND COUNTY OF LONDON YEOMANRY
(SHARPSHOOTERS)) SUPPORT SQUADRON (VOLUNTEERS)
OC SSM Maj Andy Church
WO2 (SSM) Adrian Keeble
After a quiet start to the summer, June and July turned into a
very busy period for the Sharpshooters. Firstly the Bde
Driving Camp saw a number of soldiers deploy to Catterick to
conduct various training on new vehicles and obtain licences
on familiar vehicles. SSgts ‘Daz’ Lane and Kev Harding, Sgts
Andy Hursey and Jason Bontoft along with Cpl Paul ‘Bugsy’
Broadbent all made the trip North to Catterick. Our Padre,
Padre Mark Speekes, completed his TA Professionally
Qualified Officer course (Part 2) and is well on his way to
becoming a fully fledged member of the Officer’s Mess. WO1
(SVWO) Steve Healey and Sgt Nick Castro successfully
completed the IED Instructors course, WO2 (SSM) Adrian
Keeble completed his GSR Conversion
course, SSgt (SPSI) Adam Wilkie
qualified as a Skill at Arms Instructor
and Cpl Mark Butler took 4 weeks
away from his civilian job to study for
his FEPDS Conversion course.
Ex PHOENIX GALLOP was the first
opportunity for the Sqn to meet their
new CO, Lt Col Craig Sutherland and
RSM, WO1 (RSM) Dominic Graham.
The ex itself was a very enjoyable and
busy event. A smooth deployment on
Friday evening was followed by some
constructive training on the Saturday
with Sgt Nick Castro returning to the
Sqn after a 3 year stint with the Army
Recruiting Team. He was soon back
into the swing of things and
76
July arrived and saw a promotion for the ever popular
Yeoman of Signals (V), WO1 Mark Gittins. A much deserved
promotion and no doubt he’ll be signalling drinks all round on
his next visit to the Sqn bar. The middle of July saw the Sqn
deploy with the Regt for Ex PHOENIX KESTRAL, the MATTs
weekend. Another action packed weekend was on the cards
with 265 Sp Sqn providing the bulk of instructors to lead the
Regt through their annual training tests. With the Friday
evening deployment reminding the Sqn it needs to revise its
convoy drills before Annual Camp, the soldiers arrived at Lydd
Camp raring to go and looking forward to spending a nice
sunny weekend down on the coast…on what turned out to
be one of the wettest weekends in history for the month of
July! So wet even the normally reliable Gortex suits were
providing no protection from the elements. Cpl Jim Sutton
and LCpl Carl Crane got the weekend off to a great start by
putting the Regt through its paces with a PFA. It was then
onto a familiar round robin of map reading, CBRN, BCD and
Law of Armed conflict before arriving at the range where
SSgt Wilkie and SSgt Griff Griffiths acted as RCOs, aided by
their glamorous assistant, WO2 Cliff Springer.
The day was long and eventually around 2100 hours the Sqn
was able to settle down for a few well earned beers.
Although the thought of an AFT the next morning meant that
for some the cold beers would be just another pleasure to
look forward to when they got home. The rain held off the
following day, that was until everyone decided to make their
way down to the cookhouse for breakfast and upon arrival
the sudden downpour ended as soon as it started. However,
ideal conditions prevailed for the AFT and the guys set off just
before 0900 for a nice 6 mile tab along the coast. Arriving
back well in time to help clear the brass off the range and
bring another enjoyable, yet busy, weekend to a close. The
recovery to the TA Centre was much slicker than the initial
deployment some 36 hours earlier. Could it be that the guys
were in a hurry to get home…or even to dry out their wet kit
from the previous day?
On the whole the weekend was a very successful and
enjoyable period for the Sqn. With Annual Camp looming into
view, everything is looking good for a successful 2 week
training period in September.
The 265 Sp Sqn synchronized CBRN team start their Olympics training early
NEWS FROM SQUADRONS
20 ARMOURED BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS AND SIGNAL SQUADRON (200)
PADERBORN
OC
RSM
Maj SW Whittley
WO1 (RSM) Phil McLeish
LIFE AS A CS(E) ON EXERCISE PASTHUN DAWN
- by LCpl Mason
Sqn. The said vehicle looked like it had come straight from the
wreckers’ yard and Sgt Angus quickly went about fixing it. A
job he got so engrossed in he didn’t even realise his Fluke was
on fire and shards of metal were flying into his hands thanks
to a jolt of electricity from one of the ports (a common theme
occurring from 209).
We also didn’t anticipate one of the Battle Groups wanting to
change the comms plan around all their FOBs and reinitialising
all their MDORs. This created major dramas resulting in the
Techs working past midnight to rectify the damage done.
Overall the 3 weeks have been a good experience for any
new CS(E) ready to deploy to Theatre and many a lesson has
been learnt. Most notably, don’t let LCpl Christian ‘Vin Diesel’
Mason put diesel in an unleaded car just before the OC wants
to take it for a drive. Don’t enter a S*@t Tash growing competition with Sig Steve ‘Cowie’ Howe as there will only ever
be one winner (Sgt Paul ‘ST’ Walton soon conceded). Finally
never ‘OUT’ the YofS on the airwaves.
Do you know what's going on?
After the long drive from Sennelager, via numerous detours
through Belgium and after some irate phone calls from WO2
(YofS) ‘Angry Man’ Cowie claiming his fuel card wouldn’t
work, we finally arrived at West Down Camp to commence
preparation for Ex PASHTUN DAWN, the final training exercise
prior to Op HERRICK 15. We were welcomed into our 5* 20man room transit accommodation by a colony of earwigs. The
week could only get better.
The next few days were spent building the HICON ready for
FTX1, a task that would have been a lot simpler had we not
had to make a million coax cables for various different uses.
Priority number one was, however, to get the satellite dish
working and our block entertainment system up and running.
After many zip ties , copious amounts of black nasty, hazard
tape, rubber flooring and WO2 (FofS) ‘Flash’ Gordan doing a
bit of shake and vac around the HICON it was finally up and
running.
The exercise also saw the arrival of the dreaded MDOR (BOWMAN in a box). All 13 required building and testing. This
proved a good experience for the techs as the equipment is
relatively new. The arrival of 2 CS(E)s, Cpl Lewis ‘Wrighty’
Wright and LCpl ‘Bradders’ Bradley, from 209 Sig Sqn aided us
in this tedious task. It was during this testing phase that LCpl
Bradley decided to melt half his fingers onto a cable whilst
trying to fix it with the power still connected.
200 ABSS MISSION SPECIFIC TRAINING RANGE PACKAGE 13 –
24 JUNE 2011 - by SSgt Griffiths
Members of the Sqn recently deployed to Staumuhle Camp,
Sennelager Training Area, to prepare for 2 weeks of graduated
and progressive ranges. This was the culmination of the Sqn’s
Mission Specific Training (MST) which has occupied the year
since returning from Christmas leave.
The aim of the range package was threefold; to sweep up
those members of the Sqn that had missed previous ranges
due to other Special To Arm (STA) training or supporting
Bde during the many Staff exercises that have taken place.
The range package also ensured that new arrivals in the Sqn
received the mandatory training required prior to deployment
on Op HERRICK 15. Finally, it ensured that all personnel were
exposed to realistic and valuable live firing tactical training up
to a minimum of Section level.
Week 1 commenced with Grouping and Zeroing shoots, ACMT
and Fire and Movement Tests. This natural progression led
to IBSR (individual and pairs), progressively building up to
completing the Fire Team Attack. Everyone also completed
the pistol (Sig Sauer) ACMT and some progressive shoots. Although this was only achieved once certain Sqn members had
Once testing was complete, armed with 2 teams, it was time
to deploy and build all the CF HQ’s and FOB’s. This proved a
long process that had us working from early morning till late
at night over a 2 day period. As the techs built, the operators
erected mast after mast until comms were established back to
the Radio Village. By the end of the third day everything was
in and working, a job well done.
Everything seemed to be running too smoothly and there was
always going to trouble round the corner. The first thing to
go wrong was the arrival of Pinzgauer 4, quickly followed by
the arrival of Sgt Martyn ‘Papa Smurf’ Angus, from 209 Sig
Taking aim
77
accepted that the weapon definitely does not have a safety
catch. During the ranges background/refresher activities
were run, these covered a variety of equipments and topics
from initialising a Bowman FFR to PRC-117F and HPW. We also
covered weapon systems that were to be fired later in the
package, LMG, HMG and GMG. The week culminated in the
first run down the range at Section strength, the more junior
soldiers of the Sqn were purposely chosen to take up the appointments of Section Commander and 2I/C.
The reason for this was twofold; to give them some valuable
experience of commanding under the pressure of a realistic
live firing scenario, and secondly enhancing their skill set
preparing them for PNCO Cadres and JNCO CLM. There were
some notable performances. Sigs Billins and Leonidas had
a good run down, giving effective target indications and fire
control orders, by keeping up a good momentum they progressed swiftly down the range.
Week 2 saw the Sqn progress onto Heavy weapons and more
advanced shoots, the Section Defence range was conducted
in the day and again at night. It was enhanced with IDF and
simulated RPG attacks to initiate contact with the enemy. The
aim of this range was to practice the correct use of weapon
systems to their maximum effective ranges and also made
the Section Commander and 2I/C implement a robust Combat
Service Support (CSS) plan to sustain the Section for the duration of the shoot.
Practice of the 72 hour rule for throwing the HE grenade left
the safety staff in no doubt as to who they did and did not
want to be supervising. The following day all those extra
press ups for LCpl ‘Padre’ Wright hadn’t worked out and his
grenade just managed to clear the blast wall.
The Close Quarter Marksmanship (CQM) lane practiced the
troops in their life saver drills. They were issued 4 magazines
with unknown quantities of ammunition. Once out of ammo
this simulated a stoppage on the primary weapon system,
forcing them to switch to their pistol to eliminate the threat.
Once this was complete the stoppage was cleared and the primary weapon employed again. The final attack was mounted
from the Patrol Base (PB) after coming under an IDF attack
LCpl Perkowski get prepped for the final assault
and a set of Quick Battle Orders (QBO’s), a multiple was then
deployed acting on HUMINT and soon came under contact
from the enemy. The first position was cleared after dropping
off a Fire Support Group (FSG) and then Point Of Fire (POF).
The position was finally finished off by the grenadier. After
a re-group the multiple continued on their axis of advance,
experiencing in depth positions which again were dealt with
by employing the FSG, POF and grenadier. By this time the
final objective was in sight, a stronghold which required a RED
entry. After flanking around, door charges were set and the
team were stacked in cover positions, the charges made light
work of the door and the building was cleared. Unknown to
the multiple, there was more IDF incoming which saw them
withdraw under fire back to the PB.
The range package was well received and great improvements
were seen in individual soldiers, some who had only recently
completed Phase 2 training. We now look forward to a bit of
leave prior to deploying on Op HERRICK 15 in Sept.
4 MECHANIZED BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS AND SIGNAL SQUADRON (204)
CATTERICK
OC
RSM
Maj J S Balfour
WO1 (RSM) D McCall
EXERCISE GRIM WARRIOR – by Sig Reid
Ex GRIM WARRIOR was the Junior Infantry Officer Commanders’ course, also known as PCBC, run at the Infantry Battle
School Brecon (IBS). It is a course designed to take officers
who have recently completed their Commissioning Course at
RMAS and train them in Infantry tactics to be able to command a Platoon on operations. Cpl Phillips, LCpl Burgon and I
from 204 Sig Sqn supported this event as the CIS experts.
We had a week to get our vehicle and kit sorted and then drive
to the Brecon Beacons to start the course. When we arrived
we were given a brief outline from the DSM and then another
in-depth brief from the Signals department on what we would
be doing. We then deployed as EXCON on the first exercise
on the Brecon training area. This consisted of us running the
ops room and basic fault finding that occurs with Bowman
equipment.
78
For the first 4 weeks the work was extremely hard and repetitive. Weekdays would consist of running EXCON and the
weekends would be preparation for the following weeks exercise period. The training stopped in the UK by the sixth week
and it switched focus to the jungle. It was our responsibility
to pack for and plan the equipment that we would require to
support over 200 exercising troops under the canopy.
The 13hr flight to from RAF Brize Norton to Belize was an
uncomfortably long one. Once we landed in the early hours of
the morning we went straight into Price Barracks, the home
of the Belizean Defence Force (their version of the Army). We
had 2 days in barracks to organise our equipment and sign for
the vehicles we would be using before the completing RSOI
phase. We were TAC HQ by this point so it was just the 3 of
us deployed to support the course with another Royal Signals
soldier, Sig Tom Byford, from 2 Sig Regt, who became our ED
support.
During the first week of RSOI it was fairly quiet as there were 3
live fire stands set up and the students rotated between them
all with one of us providing night safety on the range. Whilst
we were here we managed to get away and look at Caracol
which is an ancient Mayan archaeological site containing many
ruins for us too take pictures of, but more importantly they
had a real flushing toilet and a small shop! We then moved
positions to an abandoned loggers camp called San Louis and
stayed there for a week. We were a lot busier than before
as we had to install all the comms for a FOB and dig in all the
cables, which in the heat of the day was a job and a half!
LCpl Burgon deployed as the Coy Signaller on an attack to
Cotton Tree Creek and then we deployed to Augustine where
it was my turn to do the attack. We started with an 8km tab
to the area then advanced through the jungle. 2 Platoon
destroyed the sentry position and established the FSG on the
fire tower on a piece of substantial high ground and under
covering fire the other 2 Platoons assaulted through the FOB,
stopping all the resistance against them and taking detainees
where and when they could. Once the town was clear we
took over FOB CHINA and established ourselves there for the
next week.
Once we moved from Augustine we proceeded to a place the
IBS guys called “Sennybridge on steroids” and they were not
kidding!!! It was a hilly region covered in dense jungle. We
parked up the vehicles and sorted out our pit spaces. Once
this was done the platoons came in. We conducted 2 platoon
attacks from this area where I was deployed as the Coy Signaller for the final attack, which was the biggest attack I have
participated in and the IBS pulled out all the stops.
We had the FSG set up on a hill on overwatch live firing into
the valley bellow as the students flanked the positions and
proceeded to clear through them. When they met fierce
resistance the FSG unleashed the javelin to stop the enemy
in depth positions and allowed the troops a chance to move
up and claim the position. The attack carried on like this for
the next 3 hrs with each of the 3 platoons having 3 – 4 enemy
positions to take over. We had used that much explosives we
ended up setting fire to a lot of the training area!
When ENDEX was finally called we all gathered to listen to a
brief by the OC telling us how well we had worked and that we
could have some well deserved R&R. We mounted up on the
vehicles and set off to head back to Camp Price, about a 4hr
drive away. Unfortunately the torrential rains from the previous night had made the roads dangerous and the MAN trucks
carrying the troops got bogged down. They had to be flown
by helicopter about 15 miles down the road where the ground
was more stable and have the trucks meet them there so the
estimated time to return to camp was severely delayed.
Once back in camp we unpacked all of our kit, cleaned and
boxed it all up again for transport back to the UK. When this
was all sorted we were then allowed to leave on the R&R
phase where the Officers were sent to an island called San
Pedro, while all the supporting staff were sent to Caye-Caulker
where we were given a hotel room and told to behave, but
enjoy ourselves as we deserved it. We had about 28 hrs to
relax and do things like swim with sharks or fish for barracuda or, what the large majority did, find a bar and relax the
proper way with a meal and a beer. Eventually it was time to
leave the island paradise we were on and head back to camp.
Unsurprisingly the boat ride back to the mainland was very
very quiet.
Overall the experience was a good one. I personally learned
a lot about tactics that I didn’t previously know and given the
chance I think each and every one of us would take the opportunity and go again. The IBS directing staff were experienced
and helpful, plus it was the only time in my career where I had
the responsibility of instructing officers out in the field.
EXERCISE MERCURY RAT 3 – by Cpl Clark
In early July, as part of the Sqn’s CT level 1 training, Ex MERCURY RAT was put into action. This was a culmination of
trade training, to enable cap badge credibility. The training
was aimed at all trades of the Royal Signals, so, depending
on trade, there were some new skills to learn and old skills to
refresh on.
The exercise was conducted over 4 days in the CAST(N) building with a mix of Bowman training, PRC117F/High Performance
Waveform, Antenna propagation, Voice Procedure, generator
maintenance and some vehicle recovery at the end!
I was lucky enough to teach ComBAT with the task of ensuring
that all members of the Sqn could successfully, with minimal
assistance, start, setup and manipulate the application. This
also saw the Bde Comd, Brig Bruce, join in, who recognised
the importance of ComBAT as well as its intricacies.
The final day consisted of some off-road driver training. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending how you look at it) one of
the vehicles was rolled by SSgt ‘Geordie’ Gough, the MT SSgt.
He showed everyone how not to drive cross country by driving
up the hill and then sliding back down it on it’s side.
By the end of the exercise everybody had a chance to hone in
on key skills and refresh their trade knowledge before moving
into the MST period, everyone proved that they were proficient and it was a worth while training package.
7 ARMOURED BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS AND
SIGNAL SQUADRON (207)
BERGEN - HOHNE
OC
RSM
Maj N Bruce
WO1 (RSM) K Langan
Since the last edition 7 Armd Bde HQ & Sig Sqn (207) has finally been able to regroup and recover from Ex FLANDRES, look
forward to a brief lull in the battle and some well deserved
summer leave. A more in depth article on Ex FLANDRES is
to follow, but the OC would like to extend his gratitude to
all those who contributed to it’s resounding success, both in
France and the extended G4 chain all the way back to Hohne.
In addition, A Tp continue to provide high levels of ICS support
to 3 Cdo Bde on Op HERRICK 14 and a warm welcome goes
out to all those returning on R&R, the kettle is always on in
Jerboa’s for a brew and bacon buttie. Although limited, there
have been occasions for members of the Sqn to participate in
various sporting and adventurous training opportunities as we
look to take a breath over the summer period.
In addition, Sgt Taylor and Sp Tp hosted an excellent summer
function at Barn 5, with the wives’ club cocktail bar proving
especially popular.
With the Czech Republic no longer on offer upon returning
to Hohne in August, we can look forward to the rolling out
the BFOT onto Sennelager and Kenya, with the highlight of
the Autumn being the return of A Tp from operations and the
reconstitution of the Sqn.
79
EXERCISE FLANDRES - by LCpl Thomas
After months of trials and recce’s, Ex FLANDRES finally took
place in Camp-de-Mailly, north-west France, in June 2011. The
first major joint exercise between British and French troops
since the signing of last year’s ‘Entente-Cordial’, this focused
on testing the interoperability of each nation’s CIS equipment.
Fully prepared following our CT1 and CT2 exercises, Bravo Tp
set about constructing the Sqn’s largest ever HQ (complete
with a football pitch sized cam-net) with Sp Tp providing their
usual gold standard RLS for over 200 British soldiers and officers.
The weather didn’t live up to expectations and those who
followed the advice of “you won’t need your bouncing bomb”
soon found themselves uncomfortably cold at night, but as
the exercise wore on the temperatures rose and tested Sgt
Jay’s air conditioning unit’s to the limit (and sometimes a little
beyond that). After filling over 2000 sandbags to use as flood
defences it was a relief for all when Sgt Adam and his chefs installed their field kitchen, saving us from the French breakfast
of a ‘petit-pain’ with little else. It is no exaggeration to say it
was the best exercise cooking many folk had experienced during their entire military careers, and it was little surprise to see
the French contingent growing by the day as word spread of
the culinary delights on offer.
The competitive Desert Rats gave a good account of themselves in the sports day; finishing joint first on points with
the French Bde we were somehow awarded second place
– maybe some home advantage in the judging panel there?
After tearing down in double quick time, both Ts were able to
enjoy a tour of a premier Champagne house and an afternoon
exploring the capital of the Champagne region, Reims, to wind
down prior to the now familiar road move back to Hohne.
ROYAL SIGNALS CLAY TARGET CHAMPIONSHIPS 27 - 30 JUN
2011 - by Sig Monaghan
The Sqn entered a small 3-man team into the Championships
and what they lacked in experience they made up for in enthusiasm.
We made the long journey to Brawdy on 26 June ready for the
training to begin, including a mandatory introduction brief and
a shotgun safety handling course for the novices. Cpl ‘Scouse’
Girvan took the opportunity to complete a range safety officer’s course and the team then re-grouped ready to commence competition training proper.
Upon the arrival of the burger van Cfn ‘Cookie’ Ncube decided
he was good enough already and seemed to spend more time
eating than on the range practising. There were a number of
different types of shoots and the experts’ view was that the
skeet shoot was the most difficult. That was until Sig ‘Monas’
Monaghan rocked up with a score of 18/25 first time out,
much to the bemusement of Cpl Girvan because he had never
scored anything like that before.
Onto the competition itself and 207 Sig Sqn were paired up
with 14 Sig Regt (EW). We didn’t begin very brightly as Cfn
Ncube and Sig Monaghan only scored 3/25 and 8/25 respectively, but we gradually found our range and ended the first
day of the competition placed joint 2nd.
We ended up placed 3rd overall out of the minor units, and
may have faired slightly better had we not lost one team
member to exercise before the competition even began (Sig
‘Mac’ McMahon), but it was a successful week given only one
individual had any prior shooting experience. Better luck next
year . . .
BERGEN SCHÜTZENFEST 2011 - by LCpl Mattison
It is a huge honour that 7 Armd Bde HQ & Sig Sqn (207) is the
only British military unit to be invited to join in the annual Bergen Schützenfest and 2011 was no different, despite it being a
mere 15 hours after we returned from Ex FLANDRES!
At 0745 we arrived at the Bergen Stadthaus to be warmly
greeted by our hosts, the Bergen Schützencorp (Shooting
Club) with a shot of Ratzeputz (a popluar shot with the Germans – not so much with us!) and this set the tone for the day
– lots of merriment and complete mutual respect between the
Schützencorp and ourselves.
Ex FLANDRES victorious tug of war team
The exercise itself was thoroughly successful with everyone
having to dig deep at times to produce an outstanding end
product, and although LCpl Cailleau didn’t get to meet big
‘DC’ on her birthday we could all feel part of a significant step
forward in the future of the British Army in front of a vast array of high ranking military and civilian officials.
Bravo Troop enjoying the Mumm Champagne house
80
After the greetings we marched through the town of Bergen
to the current Schützenkönig’s (Shooting Kings) house, where
we were able to socialise with the people of the Schützen-
The RSM, Sqn Ops and QM enjoy a rain affected Shutzenfest
corp, whilst at the same time being entertained by the local
band and a steady flow of beers. Despite trying to keep to the
drinking rules of ‘it’s a marathon not a sprint’, when the people of Bergen see an empty hand they are compelled to reach
for another beer and give it to you.
From here we continued to march through Bergen to our next
stop where we treated to an impressive spread of breakfast
in a beer festival style marquee. Here we toasted the various
personalities within the Corp and then limbered up for the afternoon’s shooting competition, with some of us even invited
to take part.
of 3 events this summer. Fresh legs seemed to make the difference in the football as the youngsters ran out comfortable
winners and a man of the match performance by antipodean
Ex LONGLOOK soldier Cpl ‘K’ Konowalow imposed a heavy 9
wicket defeat on the Officers and SNCOs. All to play for then
in the final leg of the tri-game series after summer leave…
Finally, 6 soldiers have spent the last week enduring the rough
seas of the Baltic Sea on the Corps’ annual sailing regatta and
many more are due to return from Ex DIAMOND MOUNTIAN
RAT. We look forward to their photos and stories in the next
edition of The Wire.
The new Schützenkönig was announced at 1700, much to
the shock of his wife as the whole party then marched to his
house to continue the revelry long into the night. We thank
the Schützencorp for inviting us yet again to join in with their
tradition and look forward in earnest to next year’s festivities.
SPORT AND ADVENTURE TRAINING
In addition to the clay pigeon shooting, the unit’s cycling team
is growing from strength to strength, with Capt ‘Dobbo’ Dobson placing an impressive 4th in the individual 60km road race
in Fallingbostal and Capt ‘he’s not human’ Newman finishing
an equally inspiring 5th in his category at the 60km road race
in Gutersloh.
Devoid of manpower due to by Ex FLANDRES, the unit’s
athletics team was only able to field a team of 4 at the BA(G)
athletics competition held in June. Credit must be given to
each participating soldier wearing the Desert Rat on their
chest, each competing in at least 4 events and representing
their unit with pride. The JNCO’s have taken the upper hand in
the unit’s Jnr’s v Snr’s sporting contests by winning the first 2
WO2 'The Bart' Lawrence executes a textbook forward defensive during his knock of 44
19 LIGHT BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS
AND SIGNAL SQUADRON (209)
LISBURN
OC RSM Maj Nat Baker
WO1 (RSM) Ted Page
CORPS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS - by SSgt ‘Baz’ Barrett
Lacey Schwimmer, John Cusack and Felicia Day all have one
thing in common with the Corps, that being they share the
same day to celebrate their birthday. This year marked the
91st anniversary of the formation of the Corps and we decided
to hold a birthday celebration to mark the occasion.
The celebration started out with a round robin sports competition which saw the officers and seniors take on the juniors
at volleyball and quick cricket. Unfortunately due to the accuracy of serves from LCpl ‘Scouse’ Nealis and cat like reflexes
from LCpl ‘Gaz’ Wilcox the juniors took an early lead in the volleyball. Thankfully with the safe hands of Sgt Martyn Angus
the officers and seniors team made light work of the juniors
batting order in the quick cricket. Full of confidence the officers and seniors team stepped up to bat and within a short
time had racked up an unbeatable score putting the game out
of reach from the juniors. At the final whistle scores were totted up and points awarded and by the narrowest of margins
the juniors B team won on an away points basis.
After the sports competition we moved to the Arras restaurant where our families joined in the celebrations. Children
were transformed into butterflies, pirates, fairies and whatever else their imagination stretched to with the art of face
painting. Whilst the adults enjoyed the rare sight of sunshine
in Northern Ireland and some cool refreshments that started
to flow, in some cases a little too much. This was evident during the inter-troop games when the teams were being outwitted at times by toddlers.
No birthday celebration would be complete without a cake
and the Sqn catering manager, Sgt ‘Mac’ MacCartney, did an
absolutely fabulous job of making one fit for a royal wedding,
which was enjoyed by children both old and young.
A relaxing afternoon that was enjoyed by all and which pulled
the Sqn together prior the deployment of some members on
Op HERRICK 15.
Happy Birthday Jimmy!
81
16 AIR ASSAULT BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS AND
SIGNAL SQUADRON (216)
COLCHESTER
OC
SSM
Maj A Fawcett
WO1 (RSM) P Watson
event was won by default as 216 (Para) Sig Sqn were the only
minor unit team to enter!
However some of the team did get a pull because LCpl McCoy and LCpl Fern were recruited
by 13 Air Assault Log Regt and Cpl Wood and Sig
Harrage joined 7 RHA, who went on to dominate
the event – thankfully all that training was not
in vain.
The 6-a-side football was better contested with
all group games being 12 minutes long and only
8 players available for our team this meant there
were some tired legs come the end of the day.
Our first game was against MCTC, which we won
2-1, and the following fixtures were against 16
Med Regt then 156 Provo Coy, which we won
3-0 and 5-1 respectively. That put us in the final
against 16 Med Regt and because of fatigue
setting in the game was tight, but goals from Sig
Michael Porter and Sig Ryan Broadhurst sealed
the victory for the Sqn.
The RSMs handover the infamous Airborn Pacestick
Straight back off a well deserved period of POTL, 216 (Para)
Sig Sqn is now re-invigorating the Airborne Task Force (ABTF)
role, which for the old and bold the ABTF is what the Sqn is all
about. However for many of the newer members of the Sqn
this is uncharted territory.
Fifty five of us will be directly supporting the ABTF and there
has been a big push on getting everyone qualified and in-date
for Jumps, in preparation for taking on the role in November.
We’re well on the way now and its great to be focused on a
new role – it makes a change from Op HERRICK!
To make the change even more interesting there have also
been a lot of new faces join the Sqn. At the time of writing
the OC, Maj Fawcett is in the process of handing over to Maj
Fayers and we have welcomed back WO1 (RSM) P Watson as
the Bde RSM, who took over from WO1 (RSM) Spink. The 2IC,
Capt Dunwoody has handed over to Capt Reynolds and we
have a new Ops Offr, Capt Johnson.
There is a new QM, Capt Femson who has taken over from
Capt Wakeling and finally whilst not officially part of the Sqn
we’d like to welcome Capt Combe, who is the new RCMO. We
wish the OC, RSM and everyone else leaving us all the best in
their new appointments and look forward to seeing them in
Caythorpe.
BRIGADE SPORTS DAY - by Sgt Swan
The 16 AA Bde sports day was held on Wednesday 20 July for
all the Bde Units, but being a minor unit our opponents would
be 16 Med Regt, 156 Provo Coy and MCTC. We would be
competing against them in a number of events ranging from
tug-of-war to 6-a-side football and the day was a welcome
relief from the Bowman Training and Board of Officers that we
had been undergoing for the past few weeks.
Arriving at the sports day the Sqn quickly realised that it would
be a hard fought day to try and retain the Minor Units Shield
and we got off to an excellent start with the tug-of-war; the
82
We had similar victories from the Sqn’s Athletic
Team, which could have happily competed
against the Major Units. Sig Nathan McInnes stole the show
and dominated the day in the track and field.
This combined with our other teams’ performances meant
that no minor unit came close to catching us and when the
final scores were counted the Sqn had excelled itself. We had
retained the shield and were once again Minor Unit Champions – well done everyone.
ALL RANKS SUMMER FUNCTION – by Sig Cox
After returning back from a well earned period of POTL what
better way to get back into the swing of things than through
an all ranks function. Charlie Tp’s Cpls under the guidance of
Sgt Wildman organised the function, which turned out to be
an awesome night.
Many of us were assigned to different entertainment stands
dotted around the HQ lines, such as Kangaroo boxing and
sumo fighting. Here the guys appeared to enjoy themselves
practicing their milling techniques and challenging Screamers
to prove their worth.
There was also a BBQ run by Sig Owen Jenkins and Sig Liam
Noble. In addition there was a DJ playing in the background
provided by LCpl Rob Eyre, who seriously needs to have a
review of his music play-list. 16 Bde Main HQ was re-roled into
a ‘T in the Park’ main stage with a live band called ‘Goldstar’
playing. The HQ also housed the Sqn bar which of course was
the lads’ favourite place to be by the end of the night.
ALPHA TROOP – by Lt Draper
Tp Comd
Tp SSgt
Lt T Draper
SSgt D Porter
Alpha Tp has barely paused for breath since its return from
POTL. The past 2 months have seen us squeeze in a medals
parade, BCiP 5.4 training, a Board of Officers, a comms exercise and a visit from Comd JHC.
These events have all been completed alongside the routine
but significant tasks that fall out of being a troop that only reORBATed at the beginning of the period.
This has meant we have had little time for the activities normally associated with recovering from operations, however,
despite this morale remains high, with the newcomers to A Tp
breathing a sigh of relief for finally arriving in such a legendry
construct.
The latest of our recent events, the visit from Comd JHC, saw
the Tp shake off the cobwebs from its HQ capability, with both
Bde (Para) Tac and Bde Light (the old Bde Tac) deploying to
Friday Woods alongside stands from all the other Bde units.
Despite being a fairly mundane activity the troops were kept
entertained by the dering-do of SSgt Dougie Porter’s puppy
Otto, who, clearly envious of Dougie's parachuting experience, leapt off a 15 foot precipice without so much as a whelp
of fear. It’s a shame the JHC commander wasn’t there to
witness it.
The Tp has recently welcomed a newcomer from Phase 2 Trg,
Sig Declan Conroy, whose timeliness and adept driving skills
have impressed all of us.
Meanwhile we are losing 2; Sig Keogh will be leaving us to no
doubt terrorise the civilian population of Australia, we wish
him well in his new career. Meanwhile Sig Swithenbank is going on to attempt a long course, the Tp wishes him the best of
luck, I have no doubt he will do well.
When we arrived at the paint balling we had a little surprise
for the QM which were dessert combats dyed bright pink - so
there would be no missing our target! Unfortunately the
QM decided not to wear them but instead ordered Sig Adam
Glass to put them on because he is the newest member of our
department – spoil sport!
For the paint balling itself we were split down into teams and
put through different shooting scenarios; the blue team won
overall, with LCpl Dan McCoy contributing by having the excellent idea of hiding his weapon behind his back and creeping up
to the black team and taking their flag!
Everyone enjoyed the paint balling albeit with plenty of
bruises from the paint hitting you at supersonic speed, but a
special mention must go to Sgt Jamie Pownall who just found
the best piece of cover and got his head down without getting
hit all afternoon.
We returned to Colchester, changed, and made our way down
town to an Indian restaurant which is fast becoming a regular
haunt of ours. LCpl McCoy thought it was a good idea to put
the flames out from his curry by drinking as much wine as possible – you can imagine this came back to haunt him later on!
The Tp SSgt ‘Jerry’ Springett also had a memorable evening,
bumping into one of his ex-girlfriends unexpectedly! We are
all very much looking forward to the next Tp outing.
BRAVO TROOP – by Lt Howley
Tp Comd
Tp SSgt
Lt T Howley
SSgt P Bury
Bravo Tp bids farewell SSgt ‘Robbo’ Robertson on posting to
the TA (remember Robbo on the Bowman radio it’s base time
not face time), Cpl Mark on posting to 14 Sig Regt, LCpl Hewes
on posting to 21 Sig Regt and LCpl Townson on posting to 621
EOD Regt.
The Tp also welcomes Sig Watkins to Blandford.
CHARLIE TROOP – by Signaller Cox
Tp Comd
Tp SSgt
Capt E Shale
Sgt B Wildman
As always after a deployment comes a swift change of personalities and Charlie Tp is no different. We bid farewell to Sgt
Hernon and the chuckle brothers comprising Sig Chris Reay
and Sig Jordan Glover.
We wish them all the best as they take up their new appointments across the Corps. We welcome the following lads: LCpl
‘Ze German’ Richardson, Sig ‘Smaller Body’ Driver, Sig Sam
Fenton and Sig Chris Hardy.
SUPPORT TROOP – by LCp McLaughlin
QM
MTO
RQMS
Capt M Wakeling
Capt P Jordan
WO2 (RQMS) P Henderson
The QM’s dept are sadly bidding farewell to the QM, Capt
Matt Wakeling, this month and we all enjoyed a fantastic leaving do for him and the others departing troop members that
was organised by Cpl Ross Williamson. We started with a late
start and then played 6-a-side football, and finished up with
paint balling, which was hilarious as we all had 1000 paint balls
each.
The QM's nervous smile before the fun commences
83
OTHER UNITS
JOINT SERVICE SIGNAL UNIT (CYPRUS)
CO
RSM
Lt Col David Worden
WO1 (RSM) Paddy Lynn
Well, the summer months are upon us and as always the Unit
has braced itself for some pretty intense heat. This summer
has been more challenging than most with the catastrophic
power failure at the Zygi power station, resulting in the tragic
deaths of 12 Cypriot nationals. As with all the British Forces in
Cyprus, the JSSU has minimised its power output to the bare
essentials and the families are certainly playing their part by
minimising the use of air conditioning units and fans. It is with
some regret the JSSU (Cyp) has also said a fond farewell to
WO1 (RSM) Paul Walledge, who is retiring to Lincolnshire after
a colourful 22 year career. He will be thoroughly missed in the
Sergeants’ Mess and has been a keen contributor to station
life – although his predatory striking prowess on the football
pitch won’t be missed that much.
OPERATIONS SQUADRON
OC
SSM
Lt Cdr Steve Corps
WO2 (SSM) Andrew ‘Wilf’ Williams
MOUNTAIN TO SEA – 18 JUN 11 - by Sgt ‘Damo’ Patrick
The annual Mountain to Sea race was held on the 18 Jun 11
starting at Troodos Station and finishing in Pissouri Bay. After
a function at Troodos Mess on the previous night, it was clear
that the course record would be well and truly out of the
reach of the JSSU teams. The 30 teams were sent off at one
minute intervals. JSSU (Cyp) contributed 3 teams as follows:
Troodos-A
Two Gingers and a Strawberry Blonde
WO1 Dave Badger, Sgt ‘Nelly’ Batey (RAF) and Sgt ‘Damo’ Patrick.
Ay Nik-A
Lt Col Dave Worden, Mr Dave Richards and Sgt Tim Pringuer
Troodos-B
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Mr Kev Porter, FS Mal ‘DNF’ Solley and Sgt Steve Armstrong
scull duggery ensured Troodos-A kept ahead of their teammates. The first hill was tackled with no real problem and after a short run along the road the more technical stage began.
It was later learned that Sgt Steve Armstrong had come a
cropper at the beginning of the stage, demonstrating his best
superman impression. After a quick check up by Cpl ‘Boxy’
Box, he was back underway, carrying one or 2 battle scars on
his now not so new potty helmet. Other team members had
some crashes during this stage but came off lightly with all but
pride dented.
The June sun was beaming down as the teams tackled the
second and much larger climb. WO1 Dave Badger’s bike gears
completely malfunctioned with a broken derailleur on a fairly
technical section. This left him with just first and second gear
for the remainder of the race. The halfway point was passed
at the top with a slightly distraught look from Sgt ‘Nelly’
Batey. Rolling hills ate the miles too quickly and before we
knew it the third and final hill at the 22 mile stage was there
to finish us all off. Cramp had set in with other teams and we
pushed through to the top where much to Sgt Batey’s relief,
the coast was finally in sight. Sgt Tim Pringuer experienced
a broken chain, which was quickly repaired by Lt Col Worden,
who was the only team member to have his admin squared
away and had remembered a chain tool.
The final stage was quick and mainly downhill for the last
14 miles, but bodies and bikes were feeling the strain. Just
2 miles from the end FS Mal Solley crashed into one of his
teammates, snapping his front spindle. The front wheel would
not re-attach, so sadly his race was over. He arrived at the
finish line in the safety vehicle with his bike in pieces, where he
received the greatest amount of sympathy from Troodos-A. It
was nice to see the finish line where a crowd had built up to
cheer the teams in as they ran to the sea. It was a good day
of hard graft, but all teams still had a laugh participating and
tucked in to some good food and a well-deserved pint in a Taverna at Pissouri Bay. The JSSU-A team came 3rd overall which
was an excellent result given the competition on the day.
BAY-TO-BAY SWIM – 22 JUL 11 - by Cpl Alex ‘the fish’ Blake
Troodos-A had a good start and after a couple of miles confidence was gained with the team cornering at speed and gaining places. After a near miss by one of the team on a rather
severe corner, a puncture was also picked up by Troodos-A
and the team set to work repairing the flat. Ay Nik-A took
the opportunity to pass on their way to the technical stage.
Troodos-B caught up just as the repair was finished and a bit of
FS Mal Solley, Mr Kev Porter and Sgt Steve Armstrong at speed!
84
On 22 Jul 11 at 0715hrs, over 200 men, women and children
competed in this years Bay-to-Bay swim held at Lemmings
Beach, Happy Valley. The event was superbly organised by
CJPU and consisted of one nautical mile swim (1800m or 72
lengths of a standard pool) from Lemmings Beach, around
the peninsular and finishing at Tunnel Beach. With glorious
sunshine and the sea at its usual warm temperature, CBF,
AVM Graham Stacey, sounded the air horn for the race to
begin. With the competitive swimmers starting first and
the fun swimmers of all ages at the rear, the start was still a
sprawl of bodies competing for the clear water. A gruelling
hour or so later for some, the finish line was in sight, with the
competitors being applauded over the line by a contingent
from 2 Lancs and many spectators awaiting the return of their
families and friends.
the morning of the event for a very early start. I for one will
definitely be signing up for next years race, however, I will be
better prepared next time and try to remember my goggles.
Finishing first out of the JSSU ‘Strokers’ was LCpl Steve
Morton with a time of 32:01, followed 18 seconds later by Mr
Dave Richards and Sgt Tony Bellis shortly after in 33:34. A
good performance all round by JSSU saw the CO, Lt Col Dave
Worden, post a titanic time of 35:42 with Cpls Phil Warren and
Mikey Dalkin narrowly beating him in. A devasted WO1 Dave
Badger, whose ‘3 swims training’ seemed to pay off, finished
in a commendable time of 41:46, only to see Sgt ‘1 swim training and a can of Keo’ Nelly Batey grinning at the finish line,
having already finished a full 20 seconds earlier.
TECHNICAL MAINTENANCE SUPPORT TROOP
A special mention must go to Sgt ‘Jobbie dodger’ Armstrong,
who was discourteously obstructed by a foreign object left by
another competitor half way round the course, which clearly
had a detrimental effect not only to his time but also to his
state of mind. Cpl Ben ‘this was meant to be fun’ Kay was
the rear marker for the team and finished with a time of 1hr
13mins. After receiving our free T-shirts at the finish line and
consuming a well deserved bacon roll, all JSSU (Cyp) participants took to the beachfront for the obligatory commemorative photograph.
It was a great effort by all that took part, especially the JSSU
‘Strokers’, who travelled all the way from Ayios Nikolaos on
“ALL CHANGE AT THE TOP” - by Sig Marshall
During the past 2 months we have seen some significant
changes to the hierarchy of TMS Tp and within the Tp itself.
We have lost on posting the very popular OC, WO1 (FofS)
‘Tibsy’ Tibbets who has gone on to Blandford to work in
HQ SOinC (A) as the new Corps Foreman. We have also said
farewell to WO2 (FofS) Si King who will be sorely missed by
NikNet and Facebook; as he has moved on to Saudi Arabia. In
their stead we have had WO2 (FofS) Sandy Sanderson posted
in who joins us from SHAPE to fulfil both roles.
We have also had a change at the top, as Capt (TOT) Neil Trengove has followed Tibsy to Blandford and been replaced by
Capt (TOT) Rob Campbell fresh from Gibraltar (his motto “AT
here I come” has already been implemented on several occasions!). Also within the Tp we have said “goodbye and good
luck” to Sgt Aaron Russell (again to Blandford), Sgt Michelle
Ayling (to Corsham) and Cpl Ryan Charles. We wish them and
their families all the best for the future.
TMS HOG ROAST - by Sig Maddison
The TMS Hog Roast is an annual event in the TMS Tp calendar
and is usually preceded by a sporting event; this year was
go-karting. As always the turnout was good and the competitive spirit was as fierce as ever; SAC Garside eventually coming
out as the best driver. The families were then invited to the
riggers compound for the drinks and the actual Hog Roast –
consisting of a pig on a spit over an open fire and a BBQ, kindly
cooked by the LEC riggers.
The whole day was thoroughly enjoyed by all, but the usual
event climax, a gladiator style fight over a pool of water with
the loser taking a dip was sorely missed this year. As was Cpls
Goff and Seather who were away taking part in Army Waterpolo and golf championships respectively.
JOINT SERVICE SIGNAL UNIT
(CHELTENHAM) - BRAVO TROOP
OC
2IC
Capt (TOT) Mark Paveley
Capt Mark Long
WELCOMES AND FAREWELLS
The Tp’s manpower surge continued in earnest as we welcomed a smorgasbord of talents both green and light blue.
Salutations then to SSgt (FofS) Lee McMahon, Sgt Mark Bailey RAF, Sgt Neil Shoebridge, LCpl Richie Sellers, and SAC Nick
Gaulder. There was also a couple of fond farewells including
congratulations to Cpl Rob Brocklehurst RAF and Sgt Mike
Joyce who have both left on promotion to join LITS at RAF
Brize Norton and NCSA Brunssum respectively.
EXERCISE BEAR HUNT – by Cpl Paul Davies RAF
Seven members of JSSU Cheltenham took part in Ex BEAR
HUNT; these highly eager volunteers from all 3 branches of
the military were unaware what lay before them as they sat
at Heathrow Terminal 5 early on a warm June morning. 4500
miles away lay the wilderness known as Yellowstone National
Park and the hostile wildlife that could see some of the group
not returning from what would turn out to be a gruelling hiking expedition through the Grizzly Bears backyard
The Brave Mountaineers
The expedition was led by WO1 Al Jeffs, the JSMEL who would
be responsible for our safe return from Yellowstone and with
Flt Lt Ben Maughan as the expedition OC, the other 5 group
members knew we were in safe hands and nothing could
possibly go wrong! The first chance to escape presented itself
at New York’s JFK airport where our connecting flight was
overbooked and Delta Airlines were looking for passengers to
remain in New York for the night at the company’s expense.
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We were soon reminded that the real adventure lay eastwards
and that there were no adventures to be had in New York City.
Grand Teton
After arriving at Denver airport and recovering some missing
paperwork we were able to collect our hire cars and get our
heads down at 0200, some 23 hours after departing Heathrow. The next day presented a marathon drive of 450 miles to
Pinedale Wyoming, this put us on the doorstep of the Grand
Teton National Park and at the mercy of what would become
our biggest enemy for the trip – The North American Mosquito!
After surviving the first night in “bear country” without being
eaten by Yogi the road trip continued on taking us all the way
to the heart of Yellowstone National Park and our first hiking
challenge; a one mile lap of the Old Faithful Geysers. After this
formidable acclimatisation process was complete the group
was set for whatever Yellowstone could throw at us. This was
to be Bunsen peak with its easy 1300ft ascent over 2 miles,
however a minor navigation issue would see this increase
slightly to 1300ft of ascent in 1 mile off path and using fallen
trees from a previous storm to make a path to the top of the
hill but this would not deter the brave men of the Army and
RAF. The senior service (RN) was however struggling with
being on dry land and the inevitable toys were thrown from
the pram as CPO Cliff Hoare aired his views on hiking and the
JSMEL in charge.
The following days would see various other ascents to ever
increasing altitudes, this meant that we were to soon have
the first of many injuries and Sgt Lee ‘Chicken’ McLuckie was
unable to join the group’s first foray above 10,000ft due to a
case of needing to “man up”. The days that followed brought
more injuries and by the time of our first wild camp in the back
country was completed the whole group was either battered,
bruised, bitten or suffering from some freak allergic reaction
to washing powder that causes the skin to blister. A special
mention must go to Cpl Tom Brophy RAF who holds the
record for the greatest number of mosquito bites ever and
had to turn to alcohol to stop him from itching them.
After 5 days and nearly 60 miles a recovery day was required
before the second phase of the expedition began. This would
be a good chance to return to civilisation with a trip to West
Yellowstone and for some to sit outside McDonalds making
the most of the free Wi-Fi to get the latest Manchester City
news. The next hike was billed as a short distance route to
break us back in gently and after 18 miles we were all ready
for the final push and the 3 day route out in the back country.
Day 1 saw the group depart for the overnight camp at Heart
Lake, a short 10 mile hike to the luxurious camp site where
Dress Cat 4R levels of protection were required to deter the
Mosquito’s that were in the peak of the season. Bear watch
duties were allocated, personnel briefed on “actions on” and
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then armed up in preparation for a 5 metre contact with only a
tin of pepper spray to take on Yogi and Boo Boo after HUMINT
had indicated that the local bears were quite likely to stroll
through our campsite.
Day 2 was the final mountain ascent up Mount Sheridan, a
total of 3000ft in 3 miles but a path closure meant that Sgt
Mike Sinclair would have to forge a path with some tenacious
navigation up the North Face. After the first 500ft of ascent
we lost CPO Cliff Hoare as his sea legs gave up on him, there
would be no turning back though and his position was marked
on the GPS and he was left to battle it out with the mosquitoes alone. The remaining heroes continued on up the mountain; fighting through the undergrowth and scrambling over
boulders on the journey upwards. The route got steeper until
it was necessary to use our hands as well as feet to scramble
up the gradient. There were near misses from rocks being
dislodged but slowly the group edged up and were soon over
the top and only had the final 500ft to the summit. This, however, was covered in snow and the decision to turn back due
to safety was made. CPO Cliff Hoare was recovered from his
hillside rest point and the group descended back to the lake
and into the waiting swarms of mosquito’s, all that remained
was the return leg to the vehicles and to depart from Yellowstone to start our return to Denver.
The timetable for the return was a lot more open and allowed
for some social interaction along the way. The overnight stop
was the quiet ski resort of Jackson Hole. Despite its quiet
appearance the group were suitably impressed by The Mangy
Moose Saloon and agree with its inclusion in Forbes magazine’s top 10 Après Ski Lounges in the US. To help prepare for
the return to the UK a temporary base was setup just outside
Denver in Boulder. This allowed for all the groups admin to be
competed and also for the group members to get out into the
Rocky Mountains and partake in some personal activities. The
recovery to the UK was not without incident, our Delta flight
was 3 hours late landing in the UK, proving that it’s not just
the RAF who take their time!
Courageous River Crossing
THE LONG WAY DOWN – by LCpl Iain Moore
Earlier this year I decided to organise a cycle ride from John
O Groats to Lands End in order to raise money for charity,
and thus “The Long Way Down” was born. On 29 May, Maj
John ‘The Machine’ Collins, Cpl Leon ‘ Moxy’ Moxam, Sgt
Mark ‘Duds ‘Coley, LCpl Chris ‘ Walshy’ Walsh, Cpl Paul ‘Trax’
Traxler and I headed with our supplies to the northernmost
point of the country....John O Groats. Now, while you might
think this challenge has been done several times before, this
particular challenge was going to be slightly different. Different because we would be cycling more than 2000 km head-on
into the prevailing winds and zigzagging across the country
visiting a number of military bases along the way.
But nothing could prepare us for the challenge that lay ahead!
On the first day of cycling we were met with driving rain and
By the time we got to the half way point and the changeover day, we had started to resemble a group of professional
cyclists. We were working as a team helping each other along
both mentally and physically. Fully understanding the toll on
our bodies and how hard the ride was, we couldn’t help but
burst out laughing as one of the new team members turned
up on a bike without pedals, without attaching his cleats or
having ever ridden using cleats. The reflectors still on spokes
were the icing on the cake, but we’ll not mention any names
SAC Ben ‘When I did a triathlon’ Kerry.
And so it begins!
cold winds which nearly saw the whole team stopped in its
tracks. During the middle of the day when the team had
stopped for lunch, we were relieved to spot the admin guys,
Trax and Walshy, cooking us up a pasta meal. The weather
was so hideous that they had to cook in the back of the mini
bus sheltered from the wind, rain and cold. Not classic field
craft skills, but it got the job done! Once we were fed, watered, rested and with the feeling returning to our faces, we
plodded on, knowing full well how we would feel again in a
matter of minutes. However, determination as well as a sense
of humour helped drive us on, but it was hard to think that this
was what we were going to be facing for the next 3 weeks.
By the end of the first day we were elated to arrive at the
camping ground in Brora. Although we knew we were facing
a night in a tent, the fact we did not have to cycle another
mile for at least another 12 hours was good enough for us.
However Moxy did have to go and have a ‘word’ with himself,
to stop him throwing his ‘teddy’ out of the pram and Duds was
struggling to even get into the tent as he kept cramping up. In
the evening, in an attempt to help lift our spirits we headed to
an ‘All you can eat’ curry house which was seen as more of a
challenge than a statement. The food was then washed down
with a few well deserved pints, to cap an emotional first day
on the road.
On the road
During week one our first
rest day was in Edinburgh,
perfectly planned in order
to toast our achievements
so far, but instead we were
all completely exhausted,
and collapsed in to our beds
in 32 Sig Sqn (V) TA Centre
where we had been kindly
accommodated.
Maj Collins and Duds bid us farewell and were replaced by Ben
and Cpl Greg Cole for the second half of the ride. After the
off-going riders bid Moxy and I good luck, they chuckled at the
new additions’ expense in the knowledge that in a matter of
hours they would be regretting their decision to join the team.
As we set off, Moxy in a glass half empty moment pointed out
I was wrong, we hadn’t ‘almost finished’ it would be the same
as turning around and heading back to John O’ Groats. Good
point well presented!
Our Admin team changed over at the same time, and the new
man for Admin was Cpl Neil ‘Molesy’ Moles and what a legend
he was! As we stopped in Melton Mowbray for our lunch he
stood there grinning like a Cheshire cat as he displayed a huge
slice of stilton and a pork pie large enough to maim a Rhino
that he had managed to acquire using the gift of his substantive gab from the nearby factory.
Steadily the team pushed on with the reward of a rest day
drawing us into Colerne. It was the second and last rest day
of the whole trip and it went all too quickly. Ben and Greg
decided to go for a swim and sauna to aid recovery...it was
something the rest of the team regret not doing. For days we
had heard from Ben about every Triathlon he’d been to and
everything involved. Yet as Greg witnessed Ben’s attempt to
swim one thing become crystal clear... he couldn’t swim. Obviously a thorough ribbing was swiftly handed out by the team,
and he explained he had merely watched said triathlons and
not competed.
As we arrived at Blandford, a unique Georgian Town, at the
end of a long day’s ride we were faced with that age old
question... wait at the back gate hoping it will open in half an
hour, or go around. So we sat on the grass and waited, as the
thought of cycling up Black Lane removed any and all remaining motivation.
The next morning we were invited to the Sgts’ Mess where
we met Lt Col Vosper, CO 11 Sig Regt, Gp Capt Elliot, COS HQ
DCIS and WO1 (RSM) Yendell. It was a lot less emotional than
we thought it would be and probably the only time I have ever
been in an RSM’s good book!
During the challenge I had arranged for the team to have appointments with a number of physiotherapists to have a few
sports massages along the way. The first of these was in Edinburgh where we were met by Mr Colin Gordon and his healing
hands...On occasions Colin (and his hands) made each one of
us bite our pillow as no man should ever have to....!
On arriving in northern England, a particularly sneaky artillery
barracks near Newcastle had us questioning our navigation
skills as the road didn’t seem to go where it was supposed to.
In the end, as members of the team seemed to be going down
with cold injuries, I decided to call an end to the day and take
shelter in a local pub. Luckily the landlady at The Black Bull
looked after us by providing us with hot food and drink, while
the admin team came to collect us. On arrival at the camp and
once everyone was thoroughly warmed up, we thought it was
rude not to go in to Newcastle and have a couple of ‘Newcie
Browns’ as a way of not trying to toast the day, more trying to
forget the day.
Lands End
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The rest of the journey to Plymouth went without a hitch
other than Ben getting confused between our day’s final destination of Exeter, and RMB Lympstone. Maj Collins and Duds
who had left us in Lincolnshire, returned for the last leg so we
could finish as a full team at Land’s End. It was a disgusting
day as the full force of the on-shore Atlantic winds tried with
all their might to stop us from finishing our 140Km undulating
journey. We were exhausted as we crept towards Land’s End,
and a few of the team got emotional knowing the relief of the
finish line was mere meters away, but it was only due to the
wind that our eyes were watering... honestly!
To date we have raised nearly £10,000 for Help for Heroes and
the Royal British Legion, so despite the broken bodies, blood
sweat and tears it was well worth the effort and it was an
experience that will never be forgotten. There were a large
number of people who helped us along the way providing everything from accommodation and support vehicles to sports
massages and pork pies. A large and genuine thank you to all
of them for making our journey possible, and helping support
our charities.
HIGH ROPES – by Cpl Mick Rayner RAF
A truly heroic team of 16 members of Bravo Tp (2 x SNCO’s
and 14 Junior Ranks) embarked upon an afternoon swinging
from Ropes, Logs and Chains at massive heights up to nearly
20 metres.
further you ascended, ranging between about 4.5 and 6 foot
gaps. We were given a maximum of 15 minutes to get to the
top. The first team, including Sgt Neil Shoebridge who spent
a fair chunk of his time upside down, flew up and got to the
top pretty much bang on the 15 minute point. This, however,
wasn’t the case for the next team. Let’s call them the ‘Heavies’! (we know who we are). The last rung was just too much
for us and we were timed out. The remaining 2 teams learned
from us though and using their height and ‘lower’ weight
advantage got to the top even faster than the first team.
We were then invited to do some different challenges including climbing what was for all intents and purposes a telegraph
pole with foot pegs and an 18” square platform at the top.
From this 15 metre platform, which 2 people had to stand on,
you were invited to jump for a trapeze which I’m sure was positioned far enough away that only an orang-utan could have
ever reached it, oh and LCpl Iain ‘Lurch’ Moore.
There was also the postman’s pole, where we had to traverse
between 2 uprights using different poles, wires, ropes and
grips. SAC Nige Hughes was cat like on this apparatus, falling
after about 2 steps on the balance pole. He was that close
to the ground that his safety rope didn’t have chance to save
him.
If you haven’t had a go at a high ropes course, I would actively
encourage you to try it, as it is what I would call a ‘leveller’.
The confident, outgoing people in a team suddenly become
quieter as vertigo kicks in, and the guys who sometimes sit
in the background seem to leap into prominence when they
are asked to reach for a log when dangling over 10 meters in
the air. They seem to thrive with the adrenalin rush! We were
split into teams of 4 and asked to get to the top of a large
ladder area where the gaps between the rungs got bigger the
Never leave a man behind
SACs Hookway & Wallace working hard
All in all a fun afternoon was had by all, and as a team building
exercise it is exceptional. Next time we’ll drag the seniors
along and see how they react out of their comfort zone….
1ST NATO SIGNAL BATTALION
As a Battalion we have recently said goodbye to WO2 (RQMS)
Mark Ellis who has gone to Southampton UOTC, we wish him
all the best on all the Ski Trips he will take part in.
SSgt (FofS) ‘Mac’ MacDonald, having spent the last 2 years
flying around Europe supposedly attending planning conferences, has gone to Gutersloh.
LCpl Michelle Harrop has left the Corps to join the Adjutant
Generals Corps and LCpl ‘Geek’ Talling has made the trip up
the road to 1 Div. We welcome SSgt (FofS) Brett Doyle and
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his wife Maarja who have joined us from Blandford and Sgt
Grenade Wright (AGC) who has moved down from 1 Div. It is
great to have some new blood on the estate to talk to as we
were all getting a bit bored of each other and listening to WO2
(YofS) Bri Rawlings talking about himself. Maj Keily and Capt
Bell also wanted their names printed.
MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT COMPANY
OC
CSM
Comdt H Hollebosch Belgian Army
WO2 (CSM) B Mclean THE WIRE, OCTOBER 2011
Maintenance and Support Company are a Multi-National
Company based in Wesel alongside the Bn HQ and 3 German
Deployable Communications Modules (DCMs). The Company
is 70% German with the remaining 30% being drawn from
Belgium, Estonia, Canada, Netherlands, France and the UK.
We have members of the Dutch Navy and German Air Force
serving alongside the Army in what is a very diverse Company.
Currently we are 65% manned and are standing a lot of gaps,
including 15 empty PIDs for members of the Corps.
fore. Having completed this we were now looking forward to
getting some rest before the next set of activities. However
the DS had other ideas and decided to attack us after a couple
of hours of sleep resulting in us bugging out and moving to a
pick up point along a track which they decided to use CS gas
on. As I was near the front I got through and hadn’t even
noticed it, however my German colleague was further back
which allowed the gas to build up and he hadn’t brought a
respirator with him, resulting in quite a few laughs from me.
The Company is now firmly established in our new home in
Wesel. Supply Section and the Technical Workshops have now
moved into their new purpose built building and normal service has now resumed. The IS Department under the expert
leadership of Sgt Matt Davis have now rolled out all the NATO
Secret and NATO Unclas terminals to the Battalion. 12 months
in location and we are still awaiting phones on our desks
though! SSgt Harry Dunlop has set up a second home at the
NATO CIS School in Latina and we hope to have him back with
us soon.
Once we arrived at the pickup point we were moved to an
as yet undisclosed location. This turned out to be the Danish
Sgts naval training school where they had us doing various
activities in the pool which wouldn’t have been too hard under
normal circumstances, however after a couple of days out
with little sleep was extremely tiring and a tiny bit embarrassing as I had neglected to bring swimming trunks and had to
take part in my underwear.
Outside of Wesel we have deployed personnel in support of
various other agencies and on numerous tasks. We deployed 2
German soldiers to Mons to man the VTC for a 3 month period
and have recently sent a German soldier to Poggio Renatico
in support of Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR. LCpl Jimmy
Campbell and OR-9 De Roeck (Belgian Army) deployed to
Konya in Turkey and Cpl Wayne Jordan joined the Danish DCM
on a military exercise in Denmark.
EXERCISE FROZEN ONIONS – by Cpl Jordan
During March our Danish DCM organised a Battle Camp to
train their soldiers in basic patrol skills and field administration
which they invited members of the rest of the Bn to attend. I
was one of the people who attended along with OR-5 Barufe
who is a German soldier serving in M&S Coy alongside me.
As can be expected on the day of deployment the weather
decided to let us down and forced us to do our initial move
into location in the rain and being in Denmark this also meant
fairly cold rain, which luckily didn’t last for the entire week we
were going to be out. Due to only having 4 full days out and
having a lot they wished to achieve we got straight into the
swing of things and moved to the area we would be occupying
on foot and quickly setup our harbour area before embarking on the first patrols of the exercise. For the first part of
the exercise we were equipped with their version of the laser
equipment used to simulate being hit which made things more
interesting as I had never used this equipment before on any
exercise I had taken part in. I was also issued with the Danish
standard issue rifle which was an experience as they have their
magazine release in the same position as we would put our
safety catch, resulting in me having to reattach the magazine a
few times at critical moments due to habit.
After we had all returned from our initial recce minus 2 Danish
soldiers who had managed to get separated in the dark we
were able to get a couple of hours sleep before embarking
on the night attack on the farm. One thing the Danish army
seemed to have no lack of is pyrotechnics as there were
constant explosions and lights throughout every attack and a
never ending supply throughout the exercise. For the second
day our section was deployed to retrieve supplies and special
weapons which of course as per any exercise were all pretty
heavy equipment and food and left km’s away from our location.
That evening we were informed that we would be completing
an ambush on a convoy which again involved plenty of light
and explosions including the opportunity to actually blow
some stuff up which was recovered from the vehicles, again
something I had never had the opportunity to play with beTHE WIRE, OCTOBER 2011
On completion of this we were once again whisked off on
the vehicles to another field location where we had our rifle
barrels exchanged for 9mm barrels which can be used with
FX ammunition. To those like me who had never heard of this
before it is paintball but for a rifle which made me wonder just
how much it was going to hurt. After a quick recce for each
section on various locations we had the opportunity to get a
couple of hours sleep before commencing an attack using the
FX ammo which would mean some close fighting using it.
When we got up we also got informed that the bridge had
been closed and boats were being provided to cross the river,
one per section. This idea wasn’t the most appealing one I
had ever heard crossing about 1 km of river at midnight with
the opportunity of freezing to death if you fell in. However,
it turned out the boats were fairly stable and rowing across
didn’t take as long as I anticipated, but I was still relieved to be
getting out the other side.
The attack on the house was then completed and I was lucky
enough to be lead man and so got to feel just how much the
FX ammunition hurt at close range despite having a few layers
on due to the cold. On completion we made our way back
to the harbour area where we were informed the transport
wouldn’t be long to move us again.
When we arrived at the next location they had a day of events
planned as a section competition including going over the assault course with a cup of water to see who had the most left
at the end and blindfolded mazes amongst other things. This
culminated in going down there zip line which started about
15 metres up a tower and extended for about 100m down
the field which I managed to do despite not really enjoying
heights. Once the winner was announced we all headed back
to Haderslev for a beer and shower before heading into town
for much deserved extra drinks and food. All in all an enjoyable experience with a few firsts for me and many new people
met as a result of visiting Denmark and taking part in this
multinational event.
WESEL FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT – by Cpl Taylor
On a grey miserable Wesel summer morning Maintenance and
Support Company turned up to the station annual 6 a side
football tournament looking with a squad very German dominated with 3 token Brits to keep it international. There were
8 teams competing and it was run on a league basis meaning
7 games to test the fitness (or lack of) of the German soldiers!
With minimal training time we were surprisingly optimistic
once we had a look at the other teams attempting to play the
beautiful game.
The first game was such a walk over, even the CSM considered
getting his tracksuit top off ready to come on. The second
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game was a low point for the company, some of the more
Ronaldoesque players realized that their tricks didn’t work in
the wet and heads started to drop, we lost. A good Brecon
debrief (using no swearwords) from Cpl Jay Taylor ensued and
everyone was ready to go. Sgt Matt Davis got on for 4 mins in
the next game and spent 3 mins 50 seconds fighting with the a
very hostile German crowd, apparently it’s ok to be fouled and
the ref will not blow but when a player dives near you it is a
foul. Irrespective, we won the next few games and needed a
win in the last game to Claim top spot outright. A tight fought
game with 2nd place (a draw would see us top but with them
having a game in hand could claim it as their own) this was
prison rules football.
The locals had really came out in force to support from the
start with garage parties and gazebos set up on front lawns
on every town we went through, it really did spur us on as we
went from town to town.
The local support had started to die down as we got into
the early hours of the next day and the distance seemed to
grow between each checkpoint (it was actually getting less).
The halfway point was a welcome break and once we had
retrieved our ‘halfway bags’ we popped our blisters, took
some ibruprofen, changed our socks and put on some dry
sports kit. We set off again and actually managed to increase
our pace, the pit stop and also the sun coming up obviously
helped. The 80km point was the point that
I class as ‘the wall’. We had heard that the 3
of us along with the Belgian who was taking
the slow approach to the event were the
only team members left in the event, the
rest had dropped out between the 30km and
70km mark. OR-5 Wilkowski (German Army)
who had tried to run the whole way had got
to the halfway mark in an incredible time of
just over 5 hours and had run out of steam
and pulled out, I did warn him. LCpl Jimmy
Campbell decided to go on ahead of myself
and MCpl Wayne Smart at the 80km point
and managed to complete the 100km in a
time of 14 hours 47 minutes. He made a wise
choice as he managed to avoid the torrential
rain which landed on us as we completed the
last 5km, it definitely washed away any sense
of humour that I had left! We completed the
distance in a time of 15 hours and 51 mins and
managed to finish in the Top 500. Congratulations to OR-4 Davy Colemont (Belgian
The victorious Maintenance and Support Company team looking very smug
Army) who came in just short of 18 hours,
not bad for an old bloke!
Cpl Taylor got the ball in defence and started out on a run into
midfield on what can only be described as Moses parting the
The ‘Death March’ is definitely a very different event and one
red sea, up past midfield with ball still glued to his feet about
that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a challenge.
25 yards out he hit the ball with a shot that I am pretty sure
We will enter a team again next year (I might drive the bus
broke the sound barrier screaming into the bottom corner. It
though).
was vengeance for Euro 96 and Lampards goal that wasn’t.
He rallied his troops who were ecstatic and ordered them to
defend for the final 10 seconds of the game. The ref blew
his whistle and the game and ultimately the tournament was
won, and I fancy our chances again next year!
DODENTOCHT 100KM ‘DEATH MARCH’ – by WO2 (CSM) Mclean
The Dodentocht 100km march has been held annually in
Bornem, Belgium since 1970 and now attracts more than
10,000 participants. One of the Belgian members of the Company suggested that we enter a team this year so, after a slow
interest at first, we managed to get 9 willing volunteers and 2
additional volunteers from one of our German Sub-Units, DCM
B.
The event was due to start at 2100hrs on Fri 12 August so we
set off from Germany just after lunchtime. Cpl Wayne Jordan
had volunteered to drive one of the buses so we could not
force him to do the event, however, his Sat Nav was so out of
date we nearly didn’t arrive in Belgium for the event at all, he
will now invest some of his LOA on a new one.
Once we eventually arrived at the event we met up with our
Belgian Team members, completed the final registration and
then waited for the start. Everyone started discussing their
separate plans to get through the 100km in under 24 hours,
some were going to run until they couldn’t run anymore and
some were going to walk the whole way and some were going to do a bit of both. LCpl Jimmy Campbell, MCpl Wayne
Smart (Canadian Signals) and myself had decided to take the
run walk approach of tabbing for 1km and running for 1km.
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LCpl Campbell, WO2 (CSM) Mclean and MCpl Smart with only
25km left to go
SPORT
ROYAL SIGNALS CANOE CLUB
by SSgt Iain Lawson
The Royal Signals Canoe Club (RSCC) consists of 2 primary paddle disciplines, Sprint and Marathon K1/K2’s (one man and 2 man flat water racing Kayaks) and Slalom, white water racing. This reflects the premier racing competitions held within Army and Tri-service paddle
sport. There are, however, other new emerging fields in the areas of freestyle and surf kayaking. It is the RSCC’s aim to be a central point
of contact to encourage, inform and support all competitive paddlers within the Royal Corps of Signals.
News From Competitions:
Slalom - In June a 22SR based entry led by SSgt (SSI) Gaz Craig came a credible fourth in the Army Inter Corps Championships held in
sunny Llandysul.
Freestyle - Sgt Pete Bale competed in this spectacular, aggressive, acrobatic discipline as a guest at the RAF championships.
Sprint/Marathon - July saw the Inter Corps Sprint Marathon championships in Norwich dominated by a Royal Signals team winning both
the team Sprint Trophy and team Marathon Trophy. Individual placing’s were as follows:
K1 Marathon
1st Sig Tom Diaper 2nd SSgt Iain Lawson
K1 Sprints
1st Sig Tom Diaper 3rd SSgt Iain Lawson
K2 Marathon
1st Sig Tom Diaper and SSgt Iain Lawson
3rd Cpl Stu King and Maj John Catto RE
1st Sig Tom Diaper and SSgt Iain Lawson
K2 Sprints
Sig Tom Diaper inter corps
championships
Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race - This world famous 125mile, 77 portage race (Portage: run with Kayak around locks) takes place on
the Kennet and Avon Canal and River Thames over the Easter weekend. This year 2 members
of the Corps came out of their winter training regime to enter in the K1 and K2 categories. Maj
James King produced an outstanding performance, winning the overall event for the second
year running in a K2, (18hrs 8min) and SSgt Iain Lawson came 14th in the K1 class (21hrs 15min)
raising £1000 for charity. A well done is also due to WO2 Pete Howson MBE (late Royal Signals)
who won the Services Trophy with his son LCpl Lee Howson (20hrs 32min).
Future events - LCpl Laura Radford is hoping to emulate her prior medal winning form joining
Maj James King, Sig Tom Diaper and SSgt Iain Lawson at the Inter Services Sprint Marathon
Championships at the National Watersports Centre in Nottingham.
A Royal Signals Training camp and Championship will take place in June 2012 prior to the main
Army Championships. Contact the author via DII for further details.
SSgt Iain Lawson on completing the
Devizes to Westminster Race
LCpl Laura Radford at interservices
91
ROYAL SIGNALS PARTICIPATION IN THE ROLEX
FASTNET RACE 2011 by Lt Col Adam Corkery
The Rolex Fastnet Race only happens every other year and 2011 is a race year. It was decided over the winter to mount a Corps
campaign to compete in the race, and specifically for the Services Trophy. Due to the fact that the race covers a minimum of 609
nautical miles of offshore sailing (and for most boats considerably more) and the fact that the level of exposure of yachts to Atlantic
weather systems is potentially quite severe, there are strict criteria for both individuals and yachts to be allowed to enter; the tragedy of the 1979 race remains high in the consciousness of both organisers and aspirant participants. SSgt ‘Windy’ Gale was selected
as the Corps’ skipper and devised a comprehensive programme of individual and collective training in order to allow us to qualify for
the start. All crew were trained specifically in sea-survival as well as aspects of heavy weather
sailing and incident management. This complete, the sailing programme commenced and we
undertook a number of qualifying races to build the necessary sea-miles. Valuable lessons were
learnt and we began to gel as a crew, learning new skills as well as about one another’s strengths
and weaknesses.
On Saturday 13 Aug 11, ‘Skywave’ crossed over to Cowes and final preparations were
made for the start the following morning. Sunday dawned as a bright morning, but
with considerably more wind than forecast. The first 24 hours were moderately
uncomfortable with the boat well heeled over as she headed into the wind
combined with the chop thrown up around several of the headlands that the
course crosses in this period. We saw one boat dismasted on the first day and
sympathised that their race had ended so early. Day 2 saw a drop in wind
speed and a slightly more comfortable boat although the wind was
replaced by rain and it was an extremely wet boat throughout the middle of the race. We rounded the Fasnet Rock
on Wednesday some time after a yacht called ‘Rambler’
(a 100ft racing yacht) had capsized there having
lost her keel - thankfully all crew were rescued
Sgt Jo Thomas (RMAS) on the
unscathed. After the Rock there were periods
bow at the Fastnet rock
of downwind sailing and we were able to
fly spinnakers for short periods on days 4
and 5 resulting in good boat speeds as we
headed for Plymouth and the finish. The line was crossed at 0430 on Friday morning after some 113 hours at sea.
A day of work on the boat, the Royal Ocean Racing Club prizegiving and a tour of the highlights of Plymouth followed and we were disappointed to learn that despite our efforts, we had been pipped into second place in the Services Trophy by the Royal Engineers on ‘Redcoat’ who beat us by a frustratingly small margin of 25 minutes. We quickly decided that this wasn’t too bad over the course of a race of
over 100 hours and were able to walk away with heads held high.
Particular thanks must go to the Skipper and to the Mate,
SSgt Greg Miller as well as to the other Corps’ Bosun, Sgt
‘MJ’ Holt for his support in the run up to the start.
Next year’s campaign is in the early planning stages and all
being well will see a series of Adventurous Training expedition legs deliver one of the JSASTC yachts to Malta in the autumn of 2012 followed by participation in the Rolex Middle
Sea Race and then a series of legs to deliver the boat home
to the UK. Watch this space!!!
The Corps offshore racing team 2011 before the start
92
ARMY DINGHY SAILING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2011
- by 2Lt Alice Gifford
THE LAGOS TROPHY
On 12 July, 2 teams of keen sailors from the
Royal Signals arrived at Thorney Island to
take part in the Lagos Trophy. The Royal
Signals had managed to pull together enough
people to field 2 teams, - almost unheard of
over the last few years! The event started
with 2 days of sail training, culminating in
the actual competition which started on the
Thursday morning. The sail training was a
good opportunity for us to relearn (or learn!)
our sailing skills – some needed to get used to
sailing a dinghy as opposed to a yacht! Once
we were all acquainted with the Laser 2000
and with our now highly polished sailing skills
we began to learn team racing. For those
new to this peculiarity of dinghy sailing, team
racing is where a race is won by the team’s
total of points at the finish. It displays an
interesting dynamic in the fact that the team
with the first boat across the line may not win.
It also leads to some interesting sailing and
interpretation of the rules to allow your other
team members to overtake the ‘enemies’ boat
and guarantee a good position at the finish.
The sail training days ended with a tactics talk
from Ed Morris, an accomplished team racer.
The Royal Signals Dinghy Team 2011
R Signals A Team:
R Signals B Team:
Maj Rachel Limbrey (Capt) and 2Lt Alice Gifford
Lt Rich Greener and Maj Ewan Watson
WO2 Stu Southan and Sig Matt Farrell
Capt ‘Taff’ Owens (Capt) and Sgt Bernie Steadman
Lt Col Julian Bunce and OCdt Kirsty Clafton
SSgt Daz Offord and LCpl John Hibbert
Cpl Gav Manning
Once we had honed our sailing and team racing techniques it was time to start the competition in earnest. There were 7 teams all
together; Army Air Corps, Royal Signals A, Royal Signals B, RLC, REME, AGC and Combat Arms. The first day of the trophy began with all
the teams racing each other to decide the teams in the finals. Royal Signals A team performed particularly well finishing first at the end of
the day, having won all of their races. The Royal Signals B team were tied in joint fourth (between 3 teams). Thursday evening saw a team
debrief around the BBQ and later on in the bar in order to hone our plan for the following day.
The last day saw the Royal Signals B
team win all their races in the play off
and as a result overall beat the REME
and RLC A teams. The Royal Signals A
team had a hard fought battle against the
Combat Arms (who had brought in some
additional talent for the final day!) in the
Semi Finals. With some superb close
racing, the Corps won the first 2 races to
take them through to the Army Dinghy
Championships 2011 finals. The finals
saw more wind on the race course which
gave the opposition, the heavier Army
Air Corps team, the edge in the finals.
Despite winning every race until the
finals, the Army Air Corps sailed superbly
and after an exceptionally close final, the
Royal Signals had to settle for 2nd overall.
However, an excellent result as Army
Dinghy Championships Runners up. The
final results in order were; AAC, Royal
Signals A team, Combat Arms, AGC, Royal
Signals B team, REME then the RLC.
Royal Signals A Team with their prizes: L to R – Maj Ewan Watson, Lt Rich Greener, WO2 Stu
Southan, Maj Rachel Limbrey, 2Lt Alice Gifford, Sig Matt Farrell
Royal Signals Dinghy sailing goes from
strength to strength and it was a superb
event with new younger talent being
brought into the sport. A number of the
Corps team have been selected for the
Inter Services later in the year.
93
BRAEMAR HIGHLAND GATHERING 2011
INTER-SERVICES TUG OF WAR CHAMPIONSHIPS
- by Capt J Reid
Braemar, the recognised Inter-service “Blue Ribbon” Tug of War event of the year takes place annually on the 1st Sat in Sep and is highly
sought after, many teams considerer this tournament more important than winning the Army Championships. This may be down to the
fact that it is held in the presence of HM the Queen, Prince Philip and other members of the Royal family and VIPs’ including the Prime
Minister.
Having won against all odds in 2010 the Regt was under severe pressure to retain the Braemar Shield which dates back to 1954.
Joining 11 (RSS) SR in May I was keen to join the Regtl team and pulled at the Herts County show, an inter-service event on my 1st
weekend. I was most impressed by the standard of the pulling as many of the squad members were Phase 2 trainees. Technique, strength,
determination and team work, all essential ingredients to the basis of a good team was abundantly clear to see.
Over the season it was becoming obvious that the “battle for Braemar” was going to be more fought after and one “too close to call”
than it had been for many years. Many Army teams were winning different weight categories at major events with the impressive 17 Port
and Maritime RLC winning the Army 640Kg (Braemar weight); the Gunners of 19, 1 RHA, 3RHA, 14 and 40 Fld RA all jostling for top slot and
30 and 11 (RSS) Sig Regts within our Corps looking impressive; all teams mentioned had the capability and potential in taking the Braemar
Shield on the day.
The long journey to Braemar was only interrupted by the team stopping over night at York to train with a Mr Denis Watson, a renowned
Yorkshire Champion coach who put the team through its paces, fine-tuned some of the imperfections and demonstrated to the team how
much more improvement there was to be had and to show how far the bar could be raised in training output. We left not knowing if this
new found knowledge of our shortcomings would be a benefit or if it would dent the team’s moral and optimism? Only time would tell!
The team arrived in Braemar and continued to train hard as the “1st 8” was still collectively 20k over weight. A managed weight loss
programme had to be finely balanced as the squad was aware of the dangers of turning up on the day weakened and dehydrated, there
was no room for error. A high point of the training was Capt
Steve Sutherlands suggestion that we all go for a swim in a
local river as in the previous year to sort out the tired
muscles and niggles that were starting to appear. Initially
there was much reluctance in delving into the Highlands icy
waters in the month of Sep, it certainly was not for the light
hearted! However, the day came, with the team comfortably
making the weight, most of the team had lost an average of
5kg each in 3 days and I for one was concerned with the
possible negative effect of this extreme weight loss. There
were 12 teams in total; split into 2 groups of 6 with the Regt
having 1 RHA, 26 and 40 Fld RA in their group, the latter
being the most successful Braemar winning team having
won it an unbelievable 14 times since 1980. Having avoided
the 2 main favourites, 30 SR and 17 Port and Maritime Regt
RLC, the team was still up beat.
Marching out in front of a reported 15,000 spectators for our
first heat was a new experience for most of the team and
especially the phase 2 trainees of Sig Chris Boney, Sig ‘Pluto’
O’Shea and our coach for the day Sig ‘T-Boy’ Porter. The
first end saw the Regt win against a strong 1 RHA;
94
The 11 (RSS) Sig Regt and 30 Sig Regt Braemar Teams
confidence was high although this was short lived as we lost the 2nd end, realising that the competition area was “endy” i.e. the ground at
one end gave more of an advantage than the other. Our young and in-experienced team responded brilliantly taking the 3rd and winning
end to the relief of all. The team went on by comfortably winning against the RAF and 6 RLC. The last 2 pulls were against 26 Reg RA and
40 Fld RA, arguably the 2 strongest teams within our league. This proved correct as 26 Reg RA beat us which meant that our team had to
beat 40 Fld RA by 2 straight ends and then wait on the outcome between the last pull of the heats against 26 Reg RA and 1 RHA if we were
to qualify for the semi-finals. Fortunately this was won by 26 Reg which meant that we went through as runners-up. The other league had
been won and dominated by a most impressive 30 SR side that had not lost an “end” all day. This resulted in the 2 R SIGNALS units being
drawn together in the semi-finals with the majority tipping 30 SR to go through to the final. The team knew that to beat 30SR we had to
improve from our disjointed performance in the heats. It was decided that we had to strengthen the front to protect the back’s more
inexperienced phase 2 pullers. SSgt ‘Geordie’ White, who at the ripe old age of 47 and with over 25 years of pulling under his belt was
moved forward to No.4. This repositioning felt good on the practice rope before the semi-final and the team went out more positive.
Both teams lined up to what many were describing as the toughest pull of the day with the winner expected to go on and take the final. 30
and 11 did not disappoint and unexpectedly we took the 1st end after a very tight pull. We knew that the work had only just begun and 30
would hit us hard in the second end. True enough 30 produced the tightest rope that we had felt all day. After a long “hold” we started to
make progress and pulled 30 inch by inch to wards the line only to be stopped with a massive “lift”. It was now the turn of 30 to drag us all
the way back towards the winning line. Inches from defeat, what can only be described as a last gasp “squeal” coming from SSgt White
somehow stopped the rot and the rope stopped and came again to us. With both teams now barely able to stand, not to mention hold and
pull the rope, we mustered the inner-strength and determination to pull 30 SR the long and seemingly unending way back. 11 (RSS) SR had
against the odds beaten the heavily fancied 30 SR and it was widely agreed that a crowd pleaser there had not been for many a year.
The finals were conducted on a fresh piece of grass in front of the Royal Box with HM the Queen and Prince Philip looking on with interest.
11 would face 17 Port and Maritime in the final. After the epic encounter with 30 SR many wondered how much 11 had “left in their tanks”.
A fresh 17 Port & Maritime had gleefully witnessed our battle with 30 SR and were now tipped as favourites. The team’s were piped out in
front of the15,000+ spectators who witnessed 11 (RSS) SR win a relatively smooth (in comparison to the semi’s against 30 SR) win by 2 ends
to nil. The team was faced by an exuberant SOINC who had quickly recovered from his fell run to see a Corps unit win Braemar for the sixth
time in the last 9 years, with 11 (RSS) SR the only R
SIGNAL team to win it 3 times. This team was the 1st
that had won Braemar with a father and son (Spr
White, affiliated from 1 RSME) in its ranks.
A special mention must go to our coach Sig ‘T-Boy’
Porter who was presented the Braemar Shield from
HM the Queen; a 1st for a Phase 2 trainee, a truly
proud moment.
I echo the words from last year’s submission from
Capt Sutherland by saying that what I found most
impressive was the attitude and approach of the
team which ultimately won us the competition. On
the rope they showed immense self discipline when
under severe mental and physical pressure. When
competing against reportedly better team’s they
demonstrated courage and determination and at all
times showing respect for others through good
sportsmanship, never becoming presumptuous or
arrogant. They are a credit to the Regiment.
95
CORPS GOLF
ROYAL SIGNALS AUTUMN MEET
7/8 SEPTEMBER 2011
– by Keith Pritchard
The Royal Signals Autumn Golf meeting was held at The Ashley Wood Golf Club (TAWGC) over the period 7/8 May 2011. This Meet is
always seen as the secondary event behind the Spring Championships and has, in the past, drawn only a small field. This year,
however, saw some 62 golfers vie for the title of Autumn Champion.
Day One saw a 0730 start to the Medal round on a magnificently presented course. The weather was dry and overcast but the
infamous Ashley Wood wind was howling across the
course ready to punish any wayward shots.
The Medal round is broken down into both gross and nett
categories, so 2 chances of winning.
The conditions were such that only 8 players managed to
achieve handicap or better, the best being Sgt Richard
Blackburn (16 Sig Regt) who came in with a nett 66, 3
shots clear of Capt Bob Pace (USSO) to become the 2011
Handicap Champion.
In the scratch competition there were only 2 in the race.
Bob Pace was once again the bridesmaid, losing out by a
shot to Sig Ross Wilson (22 Sig Regt) who carded a gross
73.
Following lunch it was back to the course to compete in
the individual Stableford competition, a more relaxed
event but still against an unforgiving course.
Handicap Trophy winner - Sgt Richard Blackburn
The competition was eventually won by Mr Keith Fisher
with a score of 40 points, followed home by Capt Tek Rai
2 points behind.
Day 2 and the winds were down (a little) and all the pins suitably re-positioned. Again a 0730 start for the morning Stableford
round, both an individual contest but also the Team/Inter Unit
event. Competition was much closer with Cpl Dakswor Rai (11
(RSS) Sig Regt)and Cpl James Russell (10 Sig Regt) both coming
in with 38 points, Daks taking it on count back.
In the team competition “The Old Boys” of Derek Deegan, Chris
Cullington, Angus MacPherson and Keith Fisher beat off the
challenge of 22 Sig Regt (Capt Gerry McGachy, Capt Ash Ingham,
SSgt Somras Tamang and Cpl Bhupal Gurung) to win the event,
however 22 Sig Regt gain the honour of being Autumn Meet
inter Unit champions.
The afternoon was a much more relaxed event, a 9 hole Texas
Scramble. Twenty teams of 3 wearily set off to finish the
tournament, the only thing now at stake was personal pride.
Another close fought event saw Sgt Kev Potts (BGSU), Cpl
Dakswor Rai (11 (RSS) Sig Regt) and SSgt Steve Pearce (BGSU)
return as winners coming in with a score of 26.8, a mere 0.2
ahead of Sig Lee Flindall (3 Div Sig regt), Cpl Allan Moffatt (11
(RSS) Sig Regt) and Mr Ian Plenderleith.
The President of Corps Golf, Col Olly Halstead, thanked TAWGC
for their continued support to Corps Golf, outstanding catering
and an impeccable and challenging course before presenting the
prizes.
96
Scratch Trophy winner - Sig Ross Wilson
ROYAL SIGNALS NORTH AUTUMN MEETING –
CATTERICK 9 SEPTEMBER 2011
– by Steve Watson
The recent meeting was held on a warm, breezy and
somewhat cloudy day at Catterick golf course. The field due to a number of unfortunate
circumstances was down from previous meetings
but never the less it turned out to be a very
enjoyable meeting for all. Catterick was back to the good old days, in
magnificent condition with the greens reasonably
fast but true and continued to play its usual tricks
on the unsuspecting golfer.
We thank Catterick for their kind hospitality and
anyone who has not played there should at some
point in their playing career make an effort to play
one of the most testing courses in the north.
The morning commenced with a Better Ball with 10
teams followed by an 18 Hole Individual Stableford
in the afternoon. Div 1 Winner – Ray Chalmers
The usual Bandito’s prevailed with Wally Bacon and Steve May taking
the spoils and trophy with a magnificant 24 pts over the nine holes. Second were Dick Bush and Ian Barnes with 23 pts and in third were
Tez Fish and John Turner winning on count back with 19 pts.
The afternoon continued with the field broken down into 2 divisions,
Scratch to 15 and 16 to 28. Winners were: Div 1 Roy Chambers 36 pts,
Runner up John Lyon also 36 points Third Wally Bacon with 34 pts. Keith Raistrick won Div 2 and the overall Salver with a magnificent 37
pts with Steve May 33 pts in runner up position and John Turner in
third.
Better Ball Winners - Wally Bacon and Steve May
After a very enjoyable meal which was as usual
well presented and of a high quality Brig Howard Ham kindly
presented the prizes. The Society is gaining in strength and players from the whole
of UK have entered over the years and we hope this will
continue. Players wishing to take part should contact Steve Watson or
go through the Corps Golf Secretary for further information.
Our next meeting is at Catterick Golf Club on Friday 18 may
and Friday 24 August 2012.
Overall Winner - Kevin Raistrick
Capt (Retd) Steve Watson by email: steveandlinda.watson@btinternet.com
97
THE 2011 OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
– by Maj Ally Duncan
It’s a tough job but somebody has to do it! If you have even the
slightest interest in golf there is nowhere better to be on the third
weekend of July than at the Open Golf Championship. Some
windswept, rainy, ageing seaside resort, whose best days were
when Queen Victoria ruled 2/3rds of the world, will be hosting the
greatest golf show on the planet. This year it was Sandwich in Kent
which boasts the fantastic Royal St Georges Golf Club, home to the
Open on 13 previous occasions. The Army, invited by the R&A, send
40 Army Golf Association members to provide Marshals and Media
Liaison Officers to the Open for the week. The Marshalls work in 3
man teams for the big named players assisting with crowd control
and general security duties.
The week starts on the Sunday before when the military marshals
have to book into the accommodation, receive their brief from the
R&A Chief Marshall Brig Tony Kerr, and be issued their clothing.
Unfortunately one of the Corps’ new boys withdrew by text on that morning and having secured the slot for the Royal Signals I was keen
to get a Corps man to replace him. WO1 Carl Tucker jumped at the chance as did Sgt Kev Potts who the Corps Golf Secretary had offered
as a possible volunteer. Disappointingly with only one slot to fill Kev will now be top of my list for 2012 if he is still interested.
The Monday gives all the marshals their first chance to see the links but in reality it was only filler before half of the lads headed off to
the nearest Final Local Qualifying course to take on the Royal Navy Marshals in the annual 20 a-side Military Marshals Cup. The
sponsored match and following dinner raised money for charity with £570 and £300 being raised for Help for Heroes and Marie Curie
respectively. Disappointingly at Littlestone Golf Club the Army team lost again to the Navy.
Tuesday and Wednesday are practice days for the players and an opportunity for the Army teams to meet the players that they will work
for and practice their own TTPs. Working for US Open Champion Rory
McIlroy for the week caused a 0630 start for his practice round with Darren
Clarke. Such an early start meant that there were very few spectators and
the 3 Army Marshals near doubled the gallery that were accompanying the
start of their round. A little number of spectators means a little amount of
noise and therefore you can hear and become part of the banter between
the players. After 6 holes Rory and Darren joined up with the defending
champion Louis Oosthuizen and the Masters champion Charl Schwartzel.
Their practice rounds were transformed into a Northern Ireland v South
Africa match. Singlehandedly Rory defeated the other 2 Major champions
with Darren reduced to providing only verbal support. Clarkes’ play was so
poor that morning that none of my team would have risked even 50p on
him walking onto the 18th green as the Open Champion on the final Sunday.
How wrong we were!
If your player is not on the course you are free to either watch the golf or go and play local courses. Lt Col Gary Hawker RLC, who heads
the Army Marshals, had organised cheap golf at many of the courses, so plenty cash saved for spending in the bar at RAF Manston. Carl
Tucker and I were both defeated, twice, by our other team member ASM Mark Wilson of the REME, although we did out drink him. The
RAF certainly knows how to accommodate their lads; single man bunks fitted with TV’s and ‘hot & cold running toilets’ in each room. Ex
Corps Sgt Mark ‘Shaggy’ Shaw has marshalled at 14 Open’s, however due to his hard fought battle with cancer he was unable to work
this year. He did however come down for 2 days with his lovely new wife Trisha to savour the golf and join us all for a meal one evening.
Another ex Corps man Chris Cullington was working at his first Open in 5 years and although initially disappointed to be filling a Media
Liaison role he soon settled into the job. The ‘freebies’ and contact with the press rapidly made up for it and being invited out for drinks
with the BBC commentary team.
There are few buzzes better than walking onto the 1st tee with your players on the first competition day. A quick round of introductions
to the scorers and R&A officials and your off walking 18 holes with Rory, Ernie Els and Ricky Fowler. A windy day and a wayward tee
shot very quickly had us into the middle of the crowd, parting the gallery like the Red Sea for Moses, so that Ernie Els can recover onto
the course. The 5 hours pass in a flash and before you realise it you are walking off the 18th guiding your players through the hordes of
autograph hunters. Thanks from the players, caddies, officials, a quick pint of Bulmers and it’s off to either watch or play more golf.
Each day follows a similar format and is always completed with a night of ‘debriefings’ in the bar where the day’s events are covered in
detail. Who appeared most on TV, who was in most of the newspaper photos
attracts fines and ridicule if the cameraman did not catch your best side.
In my 7 years of involvement I’ve managed to get a number of lads marshalling
of which WO1 Carl Tucker, SSgt Andy Butler, Sgt Aidi Bennet and Cpl Jim
Russell were all Corps members. Very much like the Masons, it’s hard to get in
but once there it’s hard to give up. The 2012 Open is taking place at Royal
Lytham & St Annes on the Lancashire coast and hopefully the Royal Signals will
have an even stronger representation. Perhaps if the President of Corps Golf,
Col Olly Halstead, has taken up the offer of membership at Royal Lytham we
may even be invited in for a brew!
98
ROYAL SIGNALS ASSOCIATION
Branch News. The worst part of my job is to hear of the passing of old friends. In Aug we lost Bill Winder who, up to July, was
Hon Secretary of the Chester Branch. I’d known Bill since the mid 70s at Bunde and we always enjoyed a chat about the good old
days at the RSA AGM each year. We also lost Ray Woolley of the Cotswolds Branch. Ray was a lovely chap and, together with his
wife Jean, kept the Branch afloat for several years. Both Bill and Ray were great supporters of the Corps and RSA and will be
missed by their many friends in the Assn.
Corps Memorial Book. The book can be found by the link at the foot of the RSA home page at: www.royalsignalsassociation.co.uk
If you would like a name added, please let me know. Tributes may be made by creating a ‘celebration page’ for a loved one or
friend. There is no cost involved.
Face Book. Not everyone’s cup of tea, however the RSA Facebook page does have some wicked squaddie humour and
reminiscences.
RSA Annual General Meeting. The 67th AGM of the RSA will be held in the Victory Services Club, London on Sat 24 March 2012. All
Life Members of the RSA are eligible and welcome to attend the meeting, which starts at 1030 hrs. Any points for the agenda must
be received at Assn HQ by 1 March 2012.
E-Mail Addresses. One of the services provided by Assn HQ is to pass on messages to members – sometimes good news about
reunions or get togethers, but sometimes sad news when an old friend or colleague passes away. This service is easy and swift
when we have the person’s e-mail address. However, when we don’t, the message gets through slowly (or too late in cases of
funerals). A large proportion of members have kindly provided their e-mail address, but there are too many who haven’t. If you
haven’t had an e-mail from us in the last month or so, may we invite you to send us your e-mail address. We promise not to disclose
this (or any other personal detail) to other persons. All contact is “relay through me – (remember that?) Many members will have
changed addresses and not informed us – if you are one such member, please get in touch with us at: rsa@royalsignals.mod.uk
New Life Members. A warm welcome to the following recently enrolled Life Members:
Maj Susan Aitken
LCpl Robert Bedingfield
Sgt Diana Bland
Sgt Steve Bland
Sig Peter Brady
Cpl Robert Bray
LCpl Rod Catlin
Maj Susan Aitken
LCpl Robert Bedingfield
Sgt Diana Bland
Sgt Steve Bland
Sig Peter Brady
Cpl Robert Bray
LCpl Rod Catlin
Sgt Paul Compton
LCpl John Cosadinos
Sig Lee Cousins
Sig John Davies
Sig Brian Dennis
LCpl Steven Edmonds
Cpl Lynne Elder
1974-date
1972-78
1988-99
1986-99
1998-99
1982-89
1981-87
1974-date
1972-78
1988-99
1986-99
1998-99
1982-89
1981-87
1986-95
1942-46
1991-95
1954-56
1966-75
1974-83
1970-83
SSgt Les Eldridge
WO2 Navik Elliott
Cpl Carol Ellis
WO2 Roy Ellis
Cpl Edward Evans
Sgt Tony Evans
WO1 Clarke Fatchett
Cpl Gary Flint
WO2 Jason Garner
Sig Carl Gatrell
SSgt Gary Gough
Sig James Hampton
Sgt John Harrison
LCpl Luke Haynes
LCpl Niels Heffernan
Sgt Chas Hook
Cpl Gary Howe
Sgt Peter Hovenden-Jones
Sig Phillip Jones
Sgt Steven Lowery
Cpl Dave Lyon
1975-07
1990-date
1962-71
1963-84
1970-80
1950-69
1992-date
1982-94
1988-date
1985-95
1988-date
1956-62
1975-80
2005-date
1979-88
1971-93
1975-88
1978-92
1970-79
1989-12
1979-92
Sig Peter Malloy
LCpl Chris Manderson
LCpl Chris Maskell
Cpl Stuart McMillan
Lt Steven McNeillie
LCpl Dave McInnes
Sig Scott McLaren
Maj Terence McVey
WO2 Paul Millington
Cpl Stephen Mitchell
Col Peter Myhill OBE
LCpl Gareth Nuttall
LCpl Sandy Patterson
SSgt Heidi Peebles
Sig Robert Phee
Sig David Protheroe
Cpl Dave Robinson
Cpl Maurice Self
Sgt Eileen Smith
Sgt Eric Smith
Sig Gregor Smith
1975-82
1971-83
1974-85
1999-11
2009-date
1983-90
2006-10
1980-date
1988-11
1964-69
1962-93
1983-87
1962-68
1983-date
1981-89
1955-57
1980-96
1956-59
1963-79
1970-91
1994-98
99
Cpl James Smith
Sig Paul Smith
Sig Paul Sowsbery
LCpl Ted Sutton
WO2 Karen Swan
1958-70
1992-97
1976-79
1971-86
1983-date
Sgt Peter Thomas
Cpl Ryan Thorpe
LCpl Lynne Tunstall
WO2 Roger Wade
DONATIONS
The North Irish Horse Regt Assn £500.00
Denbury Boys Ten Tor (50th Anniversary) Team £43.96
John Jones £10.00
Chester Branch RSA £150.00
Lt Col (Retd) R F Rutherford £16.88
Keith Sayers in memory of Russell Adey BEM £60.00
Church collection at the 2011 RSA Reunion £565.11
Collected by exercise cyclists from
11 Sig Regt at the RSA Reunion £200.00
East London Branch RSA £200.00
Aldershot Branch RSA £155.50
Maj (Retd) Barry Greenwood £15.00
RSA Area 2 Carol Service 2010 (Project Noel) £204.00
Dennis Jones £10.00
Exmouth Branch RSA £25.00
In memory of Lewis Williams cheques totaling £200.00
Keith Greenhalgh £3.00
Graham March £10.00
Certa Cito Lodge £30.0
S Clout £30.00
R Waldron
£30.00
M Woodham £75.00
Vic Read £4.00
Patricia Rees in memory of her
father James (Bill) Spry
£250.00
Maj (Retd) R H Blizard £187.00
Closure of 40 Sig Regt(V) accounts £3000.00
215 Sig Sqn from auction of rank £224.42
Sgt Paul Howe from abseiling the
Blandford Tower
£500.00
Mrs Georgina Brown £10.00
Bill and Olive Irving – with fond memories
of Sally-Ann Reggler £50.00
1964-76
2001-11
1978-85
1991-date
LCpl Martin Whitesmith
Sgt Brian Wilkinson
Cpl Andy Woodhouse
Cpl Michael Yarrow
1971-84
1988-11
1985-91
1970-72
garage area and saw an excellent demonstration and display
of equipment including some very special comms hardware,
personal weapons and personal items. Signallers, both male
and female, were dressed in all the different uniforms they
have to wear, from the latest camouflage kit to very smart
blues and those highly polished boots and yes, they still use
spit and polish! Sqn members were all clearly proud of the
work they do and of the squadron of which they are a part.
Finally, we were given lunch Army style. Not quite compo
and mess tins but close. All in all, a very memorable visit.
Thank you Major John and thank you and good wishes to all
members of 251 Sig Sqn - a very special unit.
After an unbroken tenure of 16 years in the Garrison Sgts’
Mess, we experienced a brand new venue for our annual Quiz
Night: The Buller Barracks Sgts’ Mess. We were delighted
with the arrangements made by the Mess Staff under the
watchful supervision of WO1 Sven Gronn, SSM 251 Sig Sqn.
We had been a little apprehensive that the departure of 261
Sqn from Aldershot would lead to a decrease in attendance,
but our fears were allayed. The redoubtable 251 Sqn produced
5 teams, there were 2 teams from Fowler Trg Sqn, Pirbright
and a team from 661 Tp. All this, with strong support from
Aldershot and Reading Branches, not forgetting the WRAC
Lionesses led to a highly satisfying total of 19 teams.
Quizmaster Neville Lyons had compiled some innovative
rounds to get the brain cells in motion. The scoreboard was
conscientiously supervised by Gill Overton and Edelgard
Moss. The brilliant ‘Lionesses’ were, not for the first time,
outright winners, with ‘The Choughs’ from Aldershot runners
up. And, yes, 251 Sqn proved their intellectual mettle, their
‘Boss with his Bosses’ team achieving a very respectable third
place. The Mess produced an excellent buffet at half time,
while the evening was rounded off with the raffle draw and
copious prizes, organised meticulously by Mary Pagan and
Jean Wilson.
ALDERSHOT BRANCH
Chairman
Secretary
Noel Moss
Mary Pagan
The Aldershot Branch works hard to develop and maintain
active links with the serving Corps and is fortunate in having
(mostly) 2 Sig Sqns based in the Aldershot area. Imagine our
delight when OC 251 Sig Sqn, Maj John Wright, invited the
Branch to visit and what a pleasure it proved to be.
A sizeable party duly assembled in the Sqn rest room and,
once refreshed by coffee, Major John gave presentation about
the organisation, equipment and roles of the Sqn. It was full
of interest and enabled us to sense the very real challenges
and excitement of their various roles. The emergency comms
roles are not normally visible to the public, unless you are
unfortunate enough to be involved, but the public duties role
is visible if low profile. So, the next time you watch Trooping
the Colour or a similar parade, look closely and see how
many of the highly polished boots lining The Mall belong to
a Signaller complete with earpiece and concealed two-way
radio. And the Guards Colonel commanding the parade on
horseback, isn’t that a comms earpiece he is wearing? He is
not a Signaller but he relies on one for critical information for
timing purposes or in the event of an ‘incident’.
Following this fascinating presentation we went out to the
100
The Boss with his Bosses, 251 Sig Sqn
EXMOUTH BRANCH
Exmouth Branch held a special luncheon at The Hare and
Hounds, Sidbury on 27 July to honour its WW2 Veterans. It
was discovered that one of these veterans was not a Life
Member of the RSA and steps were taken, with the help of
Peter Cuckow, to rectify the ‘oversight’ at this event. At the
conclusion of the meal a very surprised Joe Daniels was
presented with his Life Membership book and 2 veterans
badges by Branch Chairman, John Wright. THE WIRE, OCTOBER 2011
After the
presentation Joe,
who is a very
sprightly 99 years
old, thanked
Branch members,
saying that he had
never met such a
happy and friendly
group of people
and that he was
proud to be one of
them. He then
joined the rest of the WW2 veterans for a group picture.
Front: Carole Cameron Heather Loveday.
Back: Jim Reilly, Chris Stitt, Lynda Whitley, John Loveday, Sammy
Allen, George Cook
Lt Col (Retd) Jim Brown TD. Jim continues to progress
towards good health since he suffered a cerebral
haemorrhage in March. We hope Jim can give us a talk before
too long about his long and interesting Regular and TA service
in Royal Signals including Korea.
The increase in NI Branch membership following the
disbandment of 40 (U) Sig Regt (V) was anticipated and
pleasing but the regular attendance of some of the new
members has been disappointing. Recruiting needs to get
back on our agenda once again. There are ex-Royal Signals
personnel resident in Northern Ireland who do not wish to
join the RSA but others who don’t know that we exist.
WW2 Veterans: Standing: Denzil Taylor, Jack Mount, Alf Kennard,
Joe Riley Seated: Ruby Stubbs, Edgar Shearn, Joe Daniels
NORTHERN IRELAND BRANCH
Chairman
Hon Sec
Mr Jim Reilly
Capt Ian Wolfe
We are pleased that Maj David Chrystal BEM has accepted
the post of NI Branch Archivist following the resignation on
health grounds of Edgar McCall. Dave was a serving member
of 40 (U) Sig Regt (V) until its recent disbandment. He is
going to be busy working with others in preparing an
“Account of Royal Signals at Clonaver Park from 1938/39 until
2010/11” He is a photographer so he will begin by interviewing
members who have stories to tell and taking their photos.
Maj (Retd) Bill Nesbitt TD has resigned from the position of
Branch Membership Secretary. Capt Ian Wolfe, Hon Sec, will
take on that role until another volunteer is appointed.
Carole Cameron BEM, a Visiting Officer amongst many other
duties, once again arranged the trip to the Blandford Reunion
this year. There were fewer members from the Province than
last year. This was partly because 2 of the older members, Bill
Nesbitt and Denis Gilpin, were no longer up to all that
walking. We didn’t want to depend on luck like last year to
get us to events, such as an English RSA member with a
Jaguar, a rare camp bus and a passing ambulance. George
Cook sent us a very good report on the visit this year.
Heather Loveday and Carole Cameron plan to go with 2
friends to the National Memorial Arboretum on 3-6th Oct this
year. Randy Cush is education co-ordinator at the Arboretum
but in the early 80’s she was a member of 85 Sqn in 40 (U) Sig
Regt (V) and she knows Heather and Carole well. We look
forward to getting a good story back but, it will have to wait
until the December Edition of The Wire.
Good news: It is hoped that an RSA Dinner Night will be held
on 18th November.
As usual, we issue an invitation to all serving or ex-members
of Royal Signals, regular or TA and ex-members of ATS/WRAC
who served with Royal Signals, to join us at Clonaver Park TA
Centre Belfast, on the third Wednesday of each month.
SOUTH LONDON BRANCH
The “hard core” of the Branch have been keeping themselves
busy so far this year with quizzes, talks, visits and general gettogethers and we’re now looking forward to the period of
lunches and dinners associated with the cooler months. In
the meantime we’ve had the pleasure of welcoming new,
thankfully younger, members Alfie Davidson, Sue Edwards
and Michael Stephenson into our ranks. We meet in the
evening of the second Thursday of each month at the
Croydon Bowling Club so if anyone wishes to join us please
feel free to do so and/or contact the Hon Sec, Steve Bland, on
020 8656 9740.
Members enjoying the sun and breeze on Beachy head during
the Eastbourne ‘Airbourne’ show in August
101
56 DIV (LONDON SIGNALS) OCA
The OCA held its AGM on 27 March and one of the features
was a cake and 60 mini-cakes donated by George Membry,
one of our Associate Members. The cake depicted members
of 831 Tp, 47 Sqn, on exercise. Last year a similar cake was
presented to Headley Court. Having disposed of the minicakes to members attending the AGM, it was decided to
present the main cake to the Royal Hospital, Chelsea for the
Pensioners to enjoy. The Hospital WO, WO1 Bob Appleby,
kindly arranged for In Pensioner Frank Buttifant to be “on
parade” to receive the cake from the OCA Chairman John
Robson and Hon Sec Steve Bland.
with 260 Sig Sqn all those years ago when the men were with
36 Heavy Air Defence Regt RA, in the infantry role, on an Op
BANNER tour in Ireland and they were given free rein to visit
the shops when they liked. The AGM was held on Saturday
afternoon. Sam Sahota and Helen sent their apologies, via
Goldie Peters. Helen’s parents had taken a stroke within an
hour of each other, both are out of danger. All members wish
them a speedy recovery. Steve Freeman- Pannent sent his
We understand that the cake went down well. Our next visit
to the Hospital will be to attend the Governor’s Parade on 4
September.
The Association held
its Ladies night at
the Congress Hotel
in Eastbourne on 9
April and welcomed
members of the
Eastbourne Branch
to share the
festivities. Apart
from an excellent
meal and company,
the raffle raised
£208 – a stunning
amount for such a
John Robson presenting the cheque to
relatively small
Alison Hunter
gathering. Given
that 2 April was World Autism Awareness Day, an autism
charity was chosen to benefit from our efforts. On 9 August
Hon Sec Steve Bland and Chairman John Robson visited the
Burgess Autistic Trust (BAT) in Bromley and presented the
cheque to Chief Executive Alison Hunter. The OCA’s annual
dinner is to be held on Friday 25 November at the Union Jack
Club, Waterloo, London at which our Guest of Honour will be
Keith Pritchard, Editor of The Wire.
260 SIGNAL SQUADRON (SAM)
ASSOCIATION
On the first weekend of May, members of 260 Sig Sqn (SAM)
Association assembled at the Drees Hotel Dortmund for their
annual reunion. Most members from the UK travelled by air
to Düsseldorf and then by train to Dortmund arriving Friday
afternoon. Les Harrison was the path finder and travelled
over on the Thursday. He had to make sure the hotel cellar
bar was in good order. He reported to the members that all
the beer pumps were fully functional and he had tested each
one. Ann and Chris Conroy decided to travel with Ryan Air to
Düsseldorf. They would like to point out that “Ryan Air
Düsseldorf” is not the Düsseldorf as they know it but the old
RAF base at Laarbruch. The 2 hour train journey to Dortmund
was enjoyable. Monika and Mick Lloyd Williams travelled to
Dortmund by car. They were welcomed to Dortmund by a
Belgian lady driver who shunted Mick’s car in the rear. Mick
reported that no one was hurt apart from the lady’s car
bumper, very handy things tow hooks. Saturday morning saw
the members’ heading off to visit various parts of Dortmund.
apologies; Ulla, his beloved wife, had a stroke a few days
before they were due to travel to Dortmund. Steve reports
are that Ulla is doing fine and upset at missing the reunion.
Pat Andrews, one of the founder members of the Association,
with her daughter Jeanette was welcomed to the reunion. A
dinner was held in the hotel Saturday evening where it was
discovered that Ted’s wife Mal Taylor was a poet and had a
book of poems published. Several copies of the book could
be seen next morning at breakfast.
A raffle was organised by Beryl and Geoff Scott, treasurer and
secretary respecyively, to raise money for the Association.
Most members departed on the Monday morning promising
to meet up again 27 – 29 April 2012 at our reunion at the Red
Lea Hotel, Scarborough.
Ex members of 260 Sig Sqn (SAM) who would like to join us in
Scarborough, please contact Beryl and Geoff Scott on phone
# 01422 373075 or E mail. bandgscott233@blueyonder.co.uk
BEVERLEY EX BOYS ASSOCIATION
Chairman
Secretary
Mick Teague
Tony Hull
For some time we have had a Memorial Fund to which
members have made donations with the idea of leaving
something in memory of the 6 (Boys) Training Regiment. At
the last RSA AGM when we heard that benches were being
erected at the Royal Signals Memorial at the National
Memorial Arboretum, it was decided that a bench would be a
fitting memorial. The necessary arrangements were made
with the Arboretum and in July our bench was installed with
the wording on the plaque as follows:
Most of the Ladies headed to the shops to see if their
favourite shop still existed from when they were in Dortmund
102
LAST POST
Name
LCpl JG Alnwick
Maj WG Askew
Lcpl G Baxter
Cpl KG Bennett
Maj P Bolton
Sig A Buckley
Maj CRC Bunce
Cpl AE Cadman
Sig J Connell
WO1 (RSM) WJ Crumble
??? BB Derus
WO2 ES Emery
WO2 PT Ferne
WO2 FE Flaherty
Sgt PR Garside
Cpl EJ Gill
WO1 B Green
Capt JN Harding
WO2 AJ Harris
Sgt RE Hoare
Sig PWN Hoskins
WO2 J Hoyland
Sig WH Hughes
Cpl TM Jones
Maj JWW Keane TDT
WO1 GS Kennard
Sig AJ Mawson
LCpl TPL McMurray-Taylor
Sgt TW Potter
Sig T Powell
WO2 (YofS) VW Rayner
LCpl SA Reggler
Sig RV Seal
Sgt KE Sheppard
Maj JG Smith
Sig NE Speke
Sig CJ Stanley
Sig J Stewart
LCpl AJ Turner
SSgt IK Wall
WO2 F Ward
Sgt PJ Whatton
Maj RJF Whistler
Ssgt WJD Winder
LCpl RO Woolley
Years Served
1957 - 1970
1939 - 1946
1949 - 1951
1938 -1946
????-????
1954-1956
1955 - 1992
1940 - 1946
1953-1955
1957 - 1985
1956 - 1971
1940 - 1946
1950 - 1975
1980 - 2003
1972 - 1996
1959 - 1971
1956 - 1979
1939 - 1946
1983 - 2005
1950 - 1961
1943 - 1947
1970 - 1994
1942 - 1947
1984 -1992
1963 - 1990
1956 - 1978
1959 - 1961
1961 - 1972
1952 - 1970
1967-1973
1956- 1978
1983 - 1994
1955 - 196/58
1966 - 1991
1950 - 1953
1952 - 1958
1939 - 1946
????-????
1941 -1947
1960-1976
1950 - 1976
1950 - 1957
1939 - 1962
1961 - 1985
1946 - 1952
Date of Death
2-Jun-11
??-Aug-2011
7-Aug-11
9-Jul-11
??-Aug-2011
18-Aug-11
3-Aug-11
31-Jul-11
22-Aug-11
4-Sep-11
??-Jun-11
19-Jun-11
11-Aug-11
27-Jul-11
29-Jul-11
??-Feb-2011
21-Jul-11
11-Jul-11
9-Jul-11
26-Jul-11
28-Jun-11
17-Aug-11
14-Jul-11
29-Jul-11
2-Aug-11
16-Aug-11
19-Jul-11
8-Aug-11
21-Jul-11
2-Aug-11
8-Jul-11
5-Aug-11
10-Aug-11
2-Aug-11
30-Jul-11
1-Sep-11
23-May-11
??-Aug-11
6-Sep-11
20-Aug-11
24-Jul-11
??-May-2011
6-Aug-11
18-Aug-11
6-Aug-11
OBITUARIES
PARKE – Major Michael Paul Parke died 1 May 2011
Michael Paul Parke was born on the 8 October
1973 in London. His father served in the Royal
Corps of Transport and his family had spent a
number of years in London before moving to
Brunei; Hanover, West Germany; Lisburn,
Northern Ireland; York; and finally settling in
Droylsden, Manchester. Michael (known as
Mike to his friends) attended Audenshaw School
for Boys and Hyde Clarendon Sixth Form College. On
completion of his A-Levels he trained for a short period in
Information Technology before joining the Royal Corps of
Signals on 6 February 1995. He underwent Phase 1 training at
the ATR Bassingbourn and trade training at the RSS, where he
qualified as a Systems Technician in spring 1996. Following
completion of trade training he was promoted to LCpl and his
first posting was to the Technical Workshops of 20 Armd Bde
HQ & Sig Sqn (200) and in winter 1996, he deployed on Op
RESOLUTE/LODESTAR to the Former Republic of Yugoslavia.
In 1997, he was promoted to Cpl. After much consideration
and discussion with his OC, Mike decided to apply for a
commission and after successfully attending the Regular
Commissions Board at the Potential Officer’s Development
Course at Worthy Down, he was given a place on
Commissioning Course 983 at the Royal Military Academy,
Sandhurst, commencing in Sept 1998. He was commissioned
into the Corps on 7 August 1999. Following a short
attachment to 30 Sig Regt, which included a deployment to
Egypt on Ex BRIGHT STAR, Mike attended the Royal Signals
Troop Commander’s Course and on completion was posted to
4 Armd Bde HQ & Sig Sqn (204) in Osnabruck. In summer
2000, he deployed with the Sqn on Op PALATINE for 6
months as a troop commander, based in Banja Luka, Bosnia.
In January 2002, he was promoted to acting Capt and
assumed the post of 2 i/c of a squadron in 1 (UK) Armd Div Sig
Regt in Herford. He was granted the rank of substantive Capt
in October 2002 and towards the end of his tour attended the
Junior Command and Staff Course at the Defence Academy.
By this point in his career, Mike was keen to take up a training
post and in August 2003, he was selected to instruct at the
RSS with his main focus being supervisory courses such as the
Royal Signals Troop Commander’s Course. After thriving and
gaining a huge amount of satisfaction in the training
environment, Mike was selected for appointment as OC 1
(Trg) Sqn Royal Signals at the ATR Lichfield. He was
promoted to Maj on appointment and assumed command in
January 2005. Between September 2006 and January 2007,
Mike became the Deputy Chief of Staff of 12 Sig Gp, 11 Sig Bde
based at RAF Stafford. He then attended the Intermediate
Command and Staff Course (Land) at the Joint Services
Command and Staff College. Mike’s initial SO2 appointment
was within the Defence Information Infrastructure team
based at Copenacre, Corsham. After settling in to his job
quickly he felt the need for a substantial change and
volunteered to deploy on Op TELIC (Iraq). He deployed in
December 2008 and assumed the role of Chief of Staff Basra
Provincial Reconstruction Team within HQ Multi-National
Division (South East), based at Basrah International Airport.
He returned to the UK in May 2009 following an extremely
successful and rewarding 6 months. In September 2009, Mike
assumed command of 202 Sig Sqn, 3 (UK) Div Sig Regt and
immediately began preparations for deployment on Op
HERRICK with an expected deployment date in January 2011.
During extensive exercises and mission rehearsal activities in
2010, Mike began to feel increasingly unwell and following
protracted medical investigations, he was diagnosed in
August 2010 with Stage 4 Malignant Melanoma with Brain and
Chest Metastases. Such was as typical of Mike, he not only
felt the deep pain, both physically and emotionally, of his
medical condition but he was also utterly devastated that he
would not deploy with his Sqn to Afghanistan.
Mike had proposed to (his now wife) Kady in May 2010 and
they had planned to marry in July 2011. Due to Mike’s
diagnosis, they quickly brought the wedding forward and
after a relentless flurry of activity and organisation by Mike
and Kady, his Sqn and Regt, family and friends, they wed at
Bulford Garrison Church on 1 October 2010. Despite the
diagnosis of a terminal condition, Mike was determined to
beat the scourge of Malignant Melanoma. He fought hard
throughout the dark days of the winter of late 2010/early 2011
and underwent a huge amount of testing and exhausting
medical treatment which he approached with his unique
combination of relentless determination, stoicism, strength of
character, positivity and his ever-present wicked sense of
humour. Mike passed away at Salisbury Hospice at 0650hrs
on the morning of Sunday 1 May 2011 having felt the dawn of
summer and the sun on his back one final time. His funeral
was held at Bulford Garrison Church on Friday 13 May 2011 and
103
he was cremated at Salisbury Crematorium. On Mike’s direct
orders, his ashes were scattered at the top of Solsbury Hill on
the outskirts of Bath in late May 2011 by Kady with his family
and friends in attendance. Mike is survived by his wife Kady,
mother Margaret, sister Dawn and brother Jason. He also
leaves behind his beloved dogs Milly and Marley as well as a
plethora of loving wider family, friends and former colleagues.
WARD – WO2 (SSM) Francis Ward died 24 July 2011
Francis, or Frank as he was more commonly
known, was born into a large family in Sligo,
Ireland, on 24 July 1935. He was the 9th child
of Catherine and Francis Snr. He had 2
brothers and 9 sisters, of whom he was
immensely proud and although they faced
many hardships together, his family, his home
town and its people always remained very close to
his heart. Indeed, his subsequent love of nature and his
ability to tell a good tale were inspired by the hills and valleys
he roamed as a child and stories of his mischievous
adventures are treasures that will live on through his children,
Francis Jnr, Suzanne and Lorraine, grandchildren, Aidan,
Ailbhe, Thomas, Kittie and Finlay.
At the age of 14 Frank left Sligo and went across the border
to sign up in the British Army. From there he was sent to 6
(Boys) Trg Regt, Royal Signals where he acquired the
nickname Paddy and attained the rank of Sergeant Major.
This experience had a profound effect on him in the transition
to adulthood as it gave him a purpose as well as teaching him
valuable skills, self discipline and camaraderie which are
values he endeavoured to instil in the men he trained and also
his children. Frank joined men’s service in 1953 where his self
belief and determination meant he was able to reach the rank
of Sergeant Major for the second time. He was posted to
many different countries including Army Wireless Chain in
Singapore from 1955 to 1958, back to UK until 1964 when he
went to Borneo/Sarawak, then Germany and Cyprus.
Whilst on leave in the late 50’s he offered to walk a young girl
home from a dance at Sligo Town Hall. Her name was
Colleen. This meeting turned out to be the beginning of a
romance which lasted 52 years. In this time, Frank proved to
be a good husband and father, who worked incredibly hard,
always providing for his family in the best way he could. He
left the army in 1976 and despite working in other jobs in the
years up to his retirement, nothing really compared to his
time in the Royal Signals and he was so pleased to be reunited
with his Beverley Boy pals again 10 years ago, after such a
long time apart.
Sadly he died in Woodthorpe Park on Sunday 24 July, after a
picnic to celebrate his 76th birthday. Although haunted by
visions of his passing, his family are thankful that they were
able to share such a beautiful and happy day with him before
they had to say goodbye. His funeral took place at the Church
of the Good Shepherd in Nottingham on 3 August and was
very well attended. Tony Hull travelled from Bournemouth
and John Wardle came from Derby to attend the funeral to
represent the Beverley Ex-Boys Association. We extend our
deepest sympathy to Colleen and all the family.
DAVIES – Col Graham Lloyd Davies OBE died 18 July 2011
Col Graham Davies died on 18 July 2011 aged 84. Graham
joined the Corps in 1948, well-equipped by Chippenham
Grammar School with the necessary qualifications for a
technical Corps. After cadet training the usual variety of
young officer appointments followed including, notably
instruction at RMA Sandhurst and 2 separate tours as
adjutant. As a major, in 1962 he was posted to serve with
Gurkhas with whom he saw active service in FARELF and was
twice mentioned in Dispatches. Following a 2 year MOD staff
104
appointment he was promoted to Lt Col and given command
of 32 (Scottish) Sig Regt (V). A second spell with Gurkhas
followed when he was appointed Deputy Commander and
AAQMG at HQ BRIGLOC in Nepal. During this tour, in 1970
Graham was awarded the OBE which was presented by
Terence O’Brian, then British Ambassador to Nepal. On
promotion to Colonel his final tour of duty was in HQ ALFCE.
This is necessarily a brief resume of a full, varied and
successful 32 year army career, but it is worth noticing that
along the way Graham acquired his parachute wings and
became fluent in Gurkhali. Always energetic, after leaving the
army Graham pursued a rewarding civilian career. Over the
next 20 years he worked successfully in management in a
variety of environments including constabulary, solicitors and
estate agents, chartered accountant, agricultural and
commercial brokers, and local government. In his spare time
he served as treasure of his local church and as a special
constable, keeping fit by playing golf, hill walking and
refereeing rugby. As a good Welshman this latter sport was
very important to him! Throughout his 2 careers, family life
provided Grahams core stability. He married Joan Elizabeth
Oberlander on 9 July 1952 and they had nearly 50 happy years
together, raising their 2 daughters Laura and Caroline, before
Joan sadly died on 3 June 2002. Graham delighted in his
grandchildren and their closeness was evident in the warm
and moving tributes they gave at his funeral.
He was a loyal and supportive member of the RSA and, with
his fluent Gurkhali, a clear favorite among the Gurkha ladies
who staffed his care home! Graham was a splendid example
of an Officer and a Gentleman – charming, kindly, courteous
and always cheerful despite the debilitating frailties of old
age. He lived a full life and our hearts go out to his family.
WHISTLER - Maj Robert John Fuller Whistler
aged 90 (born 21/09/1920)
After his education at Oundle, Robert went to
Sandhurst, and in 1939 was commissioned into
the Royal Corps of Signals with whom he
served until 1962. From 1943-1946 he was
closely involved in Airborne Forces as a Staff
Officer at AFDC and later as a Sqn Comd in 6th
Airborne Div (Signals). He was dropped behind the
lines in Germany as part of Op VARSITY and after the war
served in Palestine. Robert obtained his BSc at Shrivenham
and during the rest of his army career with the Royal Corps of
Signals his postings included Catterick Camp (more than
once), MELF Moascar (Ismailia), Fontainebleau (SHAPE),
Cyprus and Malta. After 24 years service, Robert went into
the telecommunications industry and soon joined an American
electronics company; he set up and successfully ran their
company in England. He retired in the mid 1980s and so had
more time to enjoy his many hobbies including gardening,
fishing, painting and photography. With his wife Doreen, he
lived in Camberly. He leaves 3 daughters and 6 grandchildren.
BOLTON – Maj Peter Bolton MBE died 3 August 2011
Maj Peter Bolton was an enormous character and a fine
soldier. He enlisted in the Seaforth Highlanders at the
beginning of the Second World War and saw a great deal of
action including 2 years service with the Commandos. He was
transferred to Royal Signals as an Administrative Officer in the
early sixties. I was fortunate enough to have him as my OC
HQ Sqn and Trg Maj when commanding 21 Sig Regt in BAOR
1968-71. He was an outstanding military trainer and he duly
became the Military Training Officer for the Hong Kong Police
on his retirement from the army in the early seventies.
Following his final retirement in the early eighties, he was
appointed a Military Knight at Windsor Castle where I
understand he was both popular and effective. He was
indomitable and utterly loyaI. He possessed a tremendous
sense of humour and I have not met a better raconteur. He
will be sorely missed by his wife, Rosemary, with whom he
celebrated 65 years of marriage in 2010, and his large and very
close knit family. Memories from Brig Norman Butler CBE IM
CADE – Roderick Joseph -died 20 August 2011
From Roddie’s own story and prepared by Maj
(Retd) PJ McLoughlin, a close friend brought
together through the Royal Corps of Signals.
Roderick Joseph Cade was born in Brandon,
Manitoba on 30 September 1914. His father
died when he was 2 years old and he moved to
the Black Isle in Scotland with his mother
to stay with his grandparents. He was educated
in
Munlochy and gained his ‘highers’ in Fortrose Academy (192932). He joined the Royal Corps of Signals in 1932 at Catterick,
where he spent the first year learning to be a soldier and then
his trade of Wireless Operator. In 1933 he was posted to the
Northern Ireland District Signals in Belfast, soon to move on
to Ballykinler. He got upgraded in his trade and went to
Kilroot. His next move was to India in 1936. The troopship
took 6 weeks to reach Karachi and then a 5 day train journey
to Meerut, where the Indian Mutiny started in 1857. A few
months he, along with 100 others, were sent to Quetta,
where an earthquake had killed 32,000 people. He was only
there for 2 months when trouble started on the North West
Frontier. He was posted to the NWF HQ in late 1936 and was
moved to Bannu Signals, where he was shot at for the next 11
months by Wazir, Mahsud and Afgan tribes. He said that ‘he
had never been so fit before or since’.
In early 1938 he was transferred to the Wireless Experimental
Section at Cherat, 25 miles NW of Peshawar and enjoyed his 2
years there. He was once sent, plus mule (radio and batteries
on mule), to the highest point of the frontier to check out
radio reception. He stayed there until his food ran out!! In
early 1940 he was sent to Secunderabad to help prepare the
5th Indian Division for overseas. After a short stay in Bombay
3 boats left for Singapore, but luckily the ship he was on
diverted to Basra where a minor problem had to be sorted
out in Iraq, oil wells were being attacked. He was unlucky
enough to get Jaundice and hospitalized in Mosul. He went
for baths to the roman baths in Erbil - probably the oldest city
in the world. Next stop was Syria where they got rid of the
Vichy French. Then off to Iran where another problem was
sorted out. Got to Kermanshah and Hamadan, then back to
Habbanyia for a short time before setting off on the long trip
across Palestine and Jordon to Mena Camp near the Pyramids.
After this short break it was off to the desert where events
led to finishing at El Alamein after getting a bit of hiding on
the last Benghazi Handicap and being surrounded at Mersa
Matruth. Breaking out of Mersa was probably one of the
memorable nights of the war. Roddie then joined an
armoured car sqn which was sent behind enemy lines to carry
out raids on the enemy. To do this they had to cross the
uncrossable Qatara Depression (a sea of sand). The Hun had
been stopped and forming the Alamein Line was a great
achievement. His Division was then taken out of the Alamein
Line and moved to Cyprus to reform. It was October 1942
that they (including Roddie) boarded the Princess Marguerite
at Port Said and set off for Cyprus. Only 3 hours out to sea
and they were hit by a torpedo from an Italian submarine.
They were picked up by HMS Hero while Hesperus dropped
death charges without success. 120 men were lost and
Roddie was in hospital in Port Said for 10 days. He rejoined
the unit having crossed to Cyprus in an old Egyptian Tramp
Steamer with no escort. He enjoyed 5 months in Cyprus
before volunteering as a paratrooper, part of the Royal
Signals Paratroops at the Bitter Lakes. He completed his para
training and then unfortunately damaged his right knee
landing on a night jump near Gethin. He had to go into
hospital at Nazareth for a cartilage op. After recuperation at
Natanya it was off to Sicily. After chasing the Hun out of Sicily
he crossed into Italy on 3 December 1943. Less than 2 months
later Roddie, along with other ‘long serving men’ were taken
to Sicily for repatriation to the UK to be prepared for the 2nd
Front. Whilst in UK he joined a team of 4 wireless wagons
moving up to Dundee, Ayrshire and then to Folkestone
pretending to be a Bde HQ working to 3 Divisions. Maps
captured later proved that they had done a good job. The
2nd front he said had been well documented and filmed. His
‘lot’ landed just south of Dieppe on D+3. Very hard going at
times, they even had to come back about 40 miles to help the
Yanks at the Battle of the Bulge. Activities very much
curtailed by the very bad winter of 1944, it was the coldest he
had ever experienced. Once the winter had ceased we got
going again, he said, crossing the Rhine at Wesel. The RAF did
a terrific job that night having just the width of the Rhine as
an error margin. He eventually reached Hamburg where he
celebrated VE Day and from there repatriated to the UK in
February 1946 and then he was demobbed.
After getting de-mobbed, because of his radio skills he was
taken on by the Post Office and managed to get moved to
Brora in the North of Scotland. It was here that here that he
got married to Sarah. In 1949 the Government
Communications took over at Brora, which led to Roddie
working in comms at Embassy station’s throughout the world.
He and Sarah moved to the Stockholm Embassy in 1950. He
was there for nearly 10 years before moving to Thailand the
Bangkok Embassy in 1959 and stayed there until 1961, when
they returned to UK by train from Bangkok to Singapore and
liner to Southampton via Melbourne, Wellington and Pitcairn
Island, through the Panama Canal then onto Miami, Bermuda
and home. It was a wonderful experience on the Dutch Liner.
Roddie then went to Istanbul but only stayed there 5 months
before he and Sarah were moved to the Embassy in Hong
Kong. During his stay there he managed to get to Japan and
a ride on the Bullet Train at 125 miles per hour. He said this
was the smoothest train ride he was ever on. He left Hong
Kong in 1968, they went home again by ship via Ceylon, S.
Africads, W.Africa, Madeira and Gibralter. In 1969 they went
to Lesotho in South Africa and lived in the capital Maseru
which was 8000 feet up – ‘’a very healthy place to live’’, he
said. Whilst there, he, along with 4 Scottish Proffessors from
the local university, set up a Caledonian Society. The first
function was a dinner-dance. Two nights before the event
they received a message from the Palace that the Queen
would like to attend the function and would like to be able to
do an Eightsome Reel, and that she would be at their house
that evening for instruction. The result being that the Queen
and Roddie led the Grand March on a very enjoyable evening.
Roddie and Sarah then went back to Hong Kong where he
finished his working life before returning to Avoch, on the
Black Isle in 1975. Since retiring Roddie spent 18 years on the
Community Council (13 years as Chairman). He was also
President of the Curling Club, the Bowling Club and President
of the Avoch Branch of the Royal British Legion. His younger
brother, the late Charles Murdo Leslie Cade (Les), was also in
the Royal Corps of Signals and his obituary was published in
the Wire in 2008.
Roddie was just over a month short of his 97th birthday. He
had a wonderful life full of experiences that few ever get. He
said he turned down many opportunities for promotion
because he loved the thrill of operating, his morse skills were
second to none. He said he insisted that his younger brother
stayed behind in India to get promotion whilst he volunteered
for every task that he thought would bring him excitement.
He certainly did that, dodging bullets, the Hun, torpedo
attacks and virtually visiting every continent in the world. His
talent with an accordion was still in evidence only last year,
when he played each week for the old folk.
105
MISCELLANEOUS
OP CRIB 18 by SSgt Nige Brewin RNZ Signals
SSgt Brewin enlisted in the Royal Signals in Aug 85 as an AT (EW Op). However, problems with Russian resulted in
him retrading as an RTG. Following service in NI, Cyprus, Namibia, Saudi Arabia, Bosnia and Afghanistan he left the
Corps in Aug 09 and enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Signals in Sep 09.
He is currently serving in Afghanistan (Op CRIB 18) with the New Zealand Provincial Re-Construction Team.
In April this year, after 6 weeks of pre-deployment training, I finally took to the skies heading for Afghanistan once again.
As we took off from RNZAF Ohakea and passed over the stunning sight of the snow-capped Mount Taranaki I pondered on
how the deployment would pan out and what the differences between the NZ Op CRIB and the UK Op HERRICK would be.
Our flight was extremely long and included stopovers in Australia and Malaysia but finally we undertook the tactical flight
to Kiwi Base outside the town of Bamyan in Bamyan Province. The scenery was the classic rugged mountainous desert
terrain you would normally associate with Afghanistan before finally opening up to a wide green valley that Bamyan
is built up around. Bamyan is home to the famed Buddha’s that were blown up by the Taliban when they purged the
district at the beginning of their governorship. Also close to hand is the fabled City of Screams which, even though
sacked by Genghis Khan, still strikes an impressive pose as it stands sentinel over the town. We flew low past both these
impressive landmarks and eventually landed on our dog legged airstrip and walked in to Kiwi Base.
My role here is that of the AS6 and the job can pretty much be equated to that of a Yeoman of Signals. I am responsible for the day to
day tactical communications of all Kiwi elements within the province which makes for a busy time. In addition to the normal daily routine,
I am also a qualified Landing Zone Security Officer which means I get to call in the various coalition military and NGO fixed wing and Helo
assets. This often means very early starts for me or working in the darkest hours to call in the plethora of CH47, UH60 and Apache that
frequent our base. I had become somewhat of a legend with the pilots at the beginning of the tour as the information I typically have to
give is the wind direction, wind speed, temperature and altitude. The hand held annemeter I had was faulty so I was reduced to carrying
around a thermometer the size of a wall clock, it was difficult getting in and out of vehicles with all my gear carrying this thing but it sure
was funny to see. I am glad to report I have managed to borrow a working hand held annemeter until the faulty one gets replaced.
In the short time I have been here I have been out on the ground more than I had been on Op HERRICK and as a result have seen far more
of the Afghan culture. While this is a good thing I have been unable to shake off the feelings of distrust that I acquired during Op HERRICK
which could be seen as both good and bad. Everyone has their own slant on the environment they are in.
Just like on Op HERRICK, my tour during Op CRIB is with a small team, we work well together and have achieved a lot in our time. My
ISOPs in particular have worked extremely hard on a welfare network that is appreciated by all in Kiwi Base and outages on the welfare
phones and internet have been few and far between and when they have been off line it genuinely has been “otherenditus”
The mission here in Bamyan continues. It is one of the first provinces to be handed back to Afghan control and the NZDF can be proud of
being able to facilitate the conditions that enabled this to happen. We brought out a number of New Zealand Light Armoured Vehicles
(NZ LAV) at the beginning of our tour, these have been targeted by insurgents trying to find the right type of device to defeat them and at
the time of writing this article I am glad to say that NZ LAV has beaten everything the insurgents have thrown at it.
One of our NZ LAV also came to the rescue of a US Apache that caught fire in mid air just outside Kiwi Base; NZ ingenuity saw the creation
of a purpose built Apache tow bar and the towing of the aircraft through the defensive perimeter. The Americans were impressed by the
speed the recovery was conducted and the sheer effort to pull the aircraft to safety. The incident made
news in both NZ and the USA.
The 3rd of August was a solemn day for Kiwi Base. As well as being my
birthday, it was also the anniversary of the death of Lt Tim O’Donnell,
who’s patrol was ambushed on this day last year. We all attended
a very fitting service of remembrance that reminded us all of the
importance of our mission.
So, with the end of our tour steadily creeping closer, it’s work as
normal; lines are constantly being laid, maintained, removed and
replaced. Radios don’t work, but mysteriously work fine when I get
to them. My ISOPs continue to work wonders on all the networks;
but most of all, we are all enjoying the tour and I am proud to be
serving with a very small part of our Corps in a very demanding
environment.
Certa Cito.
One of our NZ LAV’s hooked up to the crippled Apache
106
PARTNERSHIP FOR IET AND ROYAL
CORPS OF SIGNALS
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and the Royal Corps of Signals
have signed a special registration agreement to encourage the take-up of professional qualifications.
The 2 organisations signed the
agreement on 12 July which
marked the culmination of the
joint effort to provide a clearer
pathway for members of the
Corps to achieve professional
registration.
to allow our technical professionals to become Incorporated or Chartered Engineers
based on normal career progression and
training.”
Development of the scheme was led by
tion exercise including 17 interviews with
a cross section of people and a review
of evidence from our training. I led this
supported by Roy Bowdler of the IET Staff
and Lt Col (Retd) James Sweetman, who
is an active volunteer advisor for the IET.
The result was a mapped set of
requirements and process allowing
professional registration applications to the IET to be made with
Corps support on a special form.”
The agreement was signed by
Brig Tim Watts, SOinC(A) and
Michelle Richmond, IET Director
of Membership & Professional
Development.
An initial group of applicants were
successful and we are confident of
further success.
Michelle Richmond from the IET
said: “I am delighted that serving
members of the Corps can now
use the letters CEng & IEng and
The Corps has adopted a policy
have benchmarked their profesBrig Tim Watts, SOinC, and Michelle Richmond, IET Director of Mem- sional competence against the
to ensure that their members
bership & Professional Development signing the Special Registration wider community. The IET is the
gain appropriate recognition
Agreement
during their service. David Barlargest professional engineering
low, who has responsibility for
institution offering competence
supporting the arrangement said “The IET
based registration. We are delighted to
Lt Col Jim Forrest who said: “We have
has already recognised our current training
welcome members of the Corps and this
developed a good relationship with the IET
as meeting the requirements of Informathrough their Armed Forces Development
is another demonstration of our support
tion and Communications Technology (ICT)
Manager Tricia Johnson who has become a
for members of the armed forces in their
Technician. We now have arrangements
regular visitor. We carried out an evaluacareers.”
RSARS 50th ANNIVERSARY YEAR 2011/12
The Royal Signals Amateur Radio Society (RSARS) was officially formed on 23rd June 1961 at Blandford and to celebrate our Jubilee year
there will be a Special Event station running for one year from the 18th June 2011. The call sign GB50RSARS has been allocated by Ofcom
and will be running until 19 June 2012 by a number of volunteer RSARS operators.
There are 3 Certificate levels available for working a number of different member stations, these are Gold, Silver
and Bronze and full details of how to find the Special Event station and obtain one of these certificates is available
on www.rsars.org.uk under the heading RSARS 50th Anniversary Year 2011/12. These awards are available to all
Radio Amateurs around the world. Further details are also available under the call sign listings on www.qrz.com .
Membership of RSARS is available to all serving and former serving members of the Royal Signals and other branches of the Army, MoD (Army) including civilian employees, serving or retired members of the ACF/CCF or University
Officer Training Corps, serving or retired members of Commonwealth Forces and members of NATO Forces who
have worked in close liaison with Royal Signals subject to approval. Anyone interested in joining should contact the
Membership Secretary in the first instance whose details can be found on www.rsars.org.uk .
We would currently like to see more serving members of the Royal Signals join
the society and take an interest in our activities. For those members based at or visiting Blandford,
the Headquarters station is based in Cole Block and is usually manned on a Tuesday between 10:30
and 16:00 and on the 1st Thursday of each month from 19:30 onwards. Anyone interested is more
than welcome to come along to these sessions.
Our activities include various types of communication including Morse code, Voice, Data Modes
including RTTY and PSK on the HF/VHF/UHF bands. There are numerous awards available within the
society along with some annual competitions. Full details are available on www.rsars.org.uk .
107
ROYAL SIGNALS E-MARKETING RECRUITING
STRATEGY
BACKGROUND
Social networking websites have transformed the way we communicate and stay in touch. Historically the MoD has approached the internet and social media with caution and in February 2009, the MoD issued guidelines informing personnel that any information posted on
the internet, be it on a blog, a social networking site such as Facebook would be considered ‘a public disclosure of information’. The MoD
remains very vigilant regarding online security, in particular the dangers of revealing sensitive information online, however, defence
has begun to embrace the power that communicating through social media can achieve.
Having taken guidance from Headquarters Land Forces Communications and Media operations, the Corps has now adopted this stance
and transitioned to an E-Marketing strategy for recruiting. The intent is to try and influence any potential recruit that the Royal Signals is
the career of choice. An integral element of the Corps E-Marketing Strategy is the Royal Signals presence on Facebook, YouTube and the
Army Blog. The aforementioned websites all should be used to compliment the Corps representation on the www.army.mod.uk/signals/
signals.aspx
FACEBOOK & YouTube
During June 2011 the Corps established its official Facebook site www.facebook.com/rsignals
There are over 1000 followers and this number continues to grow. On the Home Page up to date trades videos and pictures from operational theatres, including the Corps Ethos have been uploaded. These include pictures of members of 3 (UK) Div Sig Regt meeting England
rugby players who visited during their recent tour on Op HERRICK. In addition to the above the administrators have witnessed posts from
a number of diverse areas such as:
•
•
•
•
Past and present Corps members.
Those who are due to enter the Corps in the near future.
Those already in Phase One and Two Training.
Parents of those already serving in the Corps.
The Corps Facebook page is monitored and any relevant questions that are presented are answered by one of the Administrators. The
birth of the Corps Facebook site is also highlighted to all of our Phase One and Two trainees when they are briefed by the Personnel Selection Team.
Late in July 2011 the Corps ‘Talk the Talk’ and all of the trades video clips were uploaded onto YouTube (www.youtube.com and then inserting ‘Royal Signals’ into the search bar)
The purpose of placing a Corps presence onto Youtube is to distribute the roles and functions of our trades to a much wider audience.
WHERE UNITS CAN HELP
To enable the Corps to continue attracting potential recruits to the Facebook site it is necessary to have current visual information that
has the ability to raise our profile. Units are requested to provide the Corps Marketing Lead (POC below) with any:
•
•
•
Photographs whilst deployed on operations.
Photographs when engaged in sporting and adventure training activities.
Any other activities that are considered to raise the profile of the Corps.
The Corps Facebook page is also available to enable units to promote any activities or events to a wide audience. Any submissions should
be distributed to the Corps Marketing Lead.
Comments on the ‘wall’ are welcome from all Corps members, as long as the following rules are taken into consideration:
•
•
•
•
•
•
They are not to use offensive or threatening language (including swearwords).
They are not to make any potentially libellous accusations.
They are to use words or sentences only in the English language.
They are not to make any intentionally unconstructive, off-topic or disruptive comments (however, differing views and debate are welcome – as experience dictates that out of the bad comments, good normally arises).
No post is to include any overtly political statements.
No post is to include any unlawful use of imagery that violates copyright.
THE ARMY BLOG
Evidence suggests that an attractive recruiting mechanism is the use of a blog, enabling personnel to publish on a regular basis their current tasks and activities. This was achieved to positive effect by 4 Mech Bde HQ & Sig Sqn (204 Sig Sqn) during their tour on Op HERRICK
12 in 2010.
It is the intent to target those Corps trades that are either a Recruiting Pinch Point or running at a deficiency at present, these are: Comms
108
ROYAL SIGNALS E-MARKETING RECRUITING
STRATEGY
Sys Op and Driver Lineman Storeman. It is acknowledged that the Corps has shortages within the EW Sys Op Career Employment Group,
however, due to the nature of their employment this was not considered a viable option.
To achieve the aim, contact has already been made with 11(RSS) Sig Regt to establish a blog as individuals progress through their Phase
2 training activities. In addition, 1 Armd Div HQ & Sig Regt and 20 Armd Bde HQ & Sig Sqn (200) have agreed to provide nominations to
maintain a blog when they deploy on Op HERRICK.
WHERE UNITS CAN HELP
Once the Corps input to the Blog has been initially established, units will be contacted to provide support once deployed. It is anticipated
that this will be initiated during the MST 2 period.
Those individuals who are selected must be volunteers and they should be prepared to:
•
•
•
•
•
Provide weekly input circa 400 – 600 words max per post (shorter than this is totally acceptable).
Make their posts individual enabling them to portray their character/personality – humour is acceptable as long as it remains in context.
Ensure continuity of theme, as this is key to building up a suitable online following.
Provide any accompanying imagery.
Provide a short summary of who they are and what they are doing.
Once agreement for support has been gained units will be briefed in more detail, in particular, in relation to the security guidelines.
SUMMARY
For some the use of social media sites to
promote the Corps goes against the grain, in
particular, regarding the potential security
implications. However, if policed correctly and
with an enduring support mechanism from our
Field Units, the use of this type of medium can
only be seen to enhance and raise the profile of
the Royal Signals in the time of austerity. Your
anticipated support is very much appreciated.
Corps Marketing (Recruiting) POC:
Capt A S Campbell
Mil: 94371 5610
Civ: 01258 485610
Email: HQRS.PSO.OC.army.mod.uk
MOD Website
Facebook
YouTube
109
WIDER EMPLOYMEN
There are many wider employment opportunities that exist within the Corps today. Against
popular belief you do not need to be a 6 foot superhuman ‘lung on legs’ to be eligible to
serve your Corps outside of the traditional signallers role.
Outstanding opportunities to serve exist in many units. All units featured require high quality
individuals. If you are that high quality individual – Go To It!
299 SIGNAL SQUADRON (SPECIAL COMMUNICATIONS)
299 Signal Squadron (Special Communications) is the only Special Communications (SC) unit in the British Army. Its mission is to
provide ICS and command support to specified Other Government Department’s (OGD) in the UK and worldwide in order to
facilitate the collection and dissemination of national information, as directed by Commander 2 Sig Bde. The Sqn employs R
SIGNALS soldiers both in trade and as Special Communications Operators. The SC Operator role involves soldiers working in
support of specified OGD’s in the UK and overseas in a wide variety of unique and challenging roles. Deployments are often at
short notice and usually involve deploying alone or in small teams. There are also a number of secondments to specialist training
and equipment development teams based throughout the UK.
4 x Special Communications Briefing Courses (SCBC) are run throughout the year each lasting 3 days, with successful candidates
loading the Special Communications Course (SCC). The SCC is 26 weeks and is designed to train in and not select out potential
operators through three modules of Special Communications training. The course requires basic MATT level standards which are
tested and then built upon as the course progresses. Successful completion of the course and posting into the Squadron entitles
you to a golden hello and SC pay.
299 Sig Sqn (SC) Special Communication
Selection criteria and further information is contained in SOinC(A) PD 206.
Briefing Course dates:
For further information contact:
299 Sig Sqn (SC) Recruiting SNCO - 94240 8517
SCBC 1/12 – 27/02/12 – 01/03/12
SCBC 2/12 – 30/04/12 – 03/05/12
SCBC 3/12 – 18/06/12 – 21/06/12
SCBC 4/12 – 23/07/12 – 26/07/12
INFANTRY SUPPORT TEAMS
The advent of Bowman, ComBAT, Infrastructure
and Platform BISA 4f (BCIP4f) and the
introduction of BCIP5, together with the
increasingly complex CIS now fielded to company
level and below, led D Inf and the SOinC(A)
to conclude that the Infantry would benefit
from embedded R SIGNALS support. In August
2008, HQLF directed the SOinC(A) to conduct a
trial between December 2008 and September
2009. The trial report confirmed the concept of
employment and proved that to have R SIGNALS
personnel embedded in the Infantry was a force
multiplier at the tactical level. In May 2010,
HQLF gave authority for the phased roll-out of R
SIGNALS Inf Sp Teams from June 2010 onwards.
For further information refer to SOinC(A) PD 013
and contact your RCMO.
110
NT OPPORTUNITIES
18 (UKSF) SIGNAL REGIMENT
216 (PARACHUTE) SIGNAL SQUADRON
16 Air Assault Brigade is the British Army’s Very High
Readiness Brigade. Focussing on future Contingency
operations, it combines both airborne and air mobile
elements to produce a fighting force with the flexibility,
robustness and technological backing to confront any
opponent on the modern battlefield.
216 (Parachute) Signal Squadron embraces this doctrine
with both airborne and air assault specialists, in addition
to operating cutting-edge CIS systems at the tactical,
operational and strategic levels in support of the Brigade
Commander and his staff.
The Sqn needs mentally and physically robust volunteers
to take on the challenge. Are you ready?
For Further Information contact:
Training Wing
216 (Para) Sig Sqn
Merville Barracks
Colchester
Tel (Mil) 94660 5498
Tel (Civ) 01206 815498
18 (UKSF) Sig Regt delivers the military CIS capability to enable
UK Special Forces operations worldwide in support of Government, Foreign, Security and Defence Policy. The Regt employs
R SIGNALS soldiers in trade and Special Forces Communicators
(SFCs).
The UK Special Forces Communicators Course (UKSFCC) is 6
months long and designed to test both physical and mental
aptitude. The potential SFC must be fit, motivated and have the
ability to assimilate the skill set required to operate modern CIS
and apply it within an SF operational context. Upon successful
completion of the course you will receive a £4500.00 golden
handshake plus £17.57 (Sig-Cpl)/£20.60 (SNCOs and above)
additional pay per day. All successful applicants provide close
support to the SAS, SBS or SRR. Two Briefing Courses are run
annually (Apr and Oct); these 5 day courses are aimed at assisting
you with your preparations prior to attending UKSFCC.
The Regt also requires high calibre Non-SFC R SIGNALS volunteers from across all trades.
Further Information is contained in SOinC(A) PD 206 or contact:
18 (UKSF) Sig Regt Recruiting SNCO - 94475 2537
660 SIGNAL TROOP
Deploy and operate in demanding environments under intense pressure in close support of EOD bomb disposal experts.
Combine your technical specialist abilities with military skills to be part of a battle winning asset.
660 Signal Troop supply 11 Regiment EOD with
dedicated ECM Operators, and are always on the
lookout for high caliber male and female EW Sys
Ops or Comms Sys Ops to fulfill this role. No preselection course is required to serve in the Troop;
applicants apply via their PPP and are posted to
11 EOD Regt for a typical 3-4 year tour that will be
far from typical.
You will receive 16 weeks specialist training on
joining the unit. During your posting you will be
expected to complete at least one operational
tour.
“The ECM Operator is a crucial part of the team; the command threat expert on all
improvised explosive devices. On more than one occasion he has saved my life”
111
229 SIGNAL SQUADRON RETURN TO BERLIN 13TH AUGUST 2011 – by Keith Olds
Ten members of 229 Sig Sqn and their wives returned to Berlin to commemorate the building of the Berlin Wall 50 years ago on 13th August 1961. Our
second in command at the time, Keith Olds, with his wife Christine, were invited to attend the major commemorative event of the day, where the
Bundespresident, Governing Mayor of Berlin, and senior members of the Parliament and Clergy were in attendance. It was a poignant event; prayers
were said, and wreaths laid to mark the terrible happenings from that day until the reunification of Germany and the tearing down of the wall in 1989.
Later in the day, the whole party was invited to an early evening event. There, representatives of the Allied Forces who were in Berlin at the time
shared their memories of the day. Keith Olds represented the British. Officers from the American and French armies on duty on that memorable day
also attended. It was a moving experience and we all found it quite humbling to be seated in the front row and treated with such respect.
Whilst in Berlin we also took the opportunity to visit old ground, so a visit was arranged to the unit lines at the Olympic Stadium, a flying tour of the
English village married quarters before visiting the Allied Forces Museum, where the curator, Bernd von Kostka, conducted a tour. That was followed
by a drive to Potsdam to look at the Brixmis house and Cecilienhof Palace, where the
Potsdam agreement was signed in 1945.
Our thanks go to Bob and Bea Hurst, who arranged the tour of the Olympic Stadium
and the school bus we used for the day. Also to Derek and Ingrid O’Hara who
devised the schedule for the day, arranged the trip to the Allied Museum (not to
mention managed to recover my mobile phone which I left in a café after a comfort
stop), and booked the table at Maximillians for our ‘demob’ party on the Sunday,
before half the party returned home on Monday. Our thanks to all of you.
The rest of our time in Berlin was taken up with visiting both Russian war memorials
(the one in the east zone as well as the Tiergarten), a stroll up the Kurfurstendamm,
seeing the Brandenburg Gate, a Curryvurst, and, of course, a bier or 2 in street cafés.
We also managed a ride on a boat (twice for some of us), not to mention the street
festival we saw where we tried the food, and had a few more biers. All in all, we had
a great time, and are now looking forward to the next one! I make that 13th August
2061; Terry’s not taking bookings just yet, so make sure to put it in your diaries!!!
PROMS & PIPES
The Band and Pipes & Drums of the Royal Corps of Signals
The Pavilion Theatre
Weymouth
October 15 2011
Starts 7.30
Join us and join in
an evening’s entertainment
combining the
Power, Pomp and Passion
of Military marches
with evocative performances of
Classical, Modern and PROMs music.
A spell binding and fun night out
at
Box Office
01305
01305 783
783 225
225
Box Office
112
The Pavilion Theatre,
Weymouth
October 15 2011
Starts 7.30
Starts 7.30
October 15 2011
Weymouth
The Pavillion Theatre,

Oct 2011 - Royal Corps of Signals

Transcription

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