The Royal Anglian Regiment Association

 

                                                   ROYAL ANGLIAN NEWS                                           

1.         The Regiment thanks and congratulates Mrs Christine Bonner and Capt Ty Smith, together with the 1st Battalion’s team of walkers, for successfully completing All the 4s and arriving safely in Chelmsford on Sun 25 Jul 10. They set out from Peterborough on Fri 16 Jul 10 and, over the next 10 days, walked 150 miles through the counties of Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. They were supported en route by Capt Adi Penn and his ‘bucket shakers’ from the 1st Battalion, together with many other ‘connect’ walkers from across the Regimental Family and public.

2.         Christine has been raising money for The Royal Anglian Regiment Benevolent Charity, which last year alone paid out £97,000 in 255 cases. This provides money for serving or former members of The Royal Anglian Regiment or former regiments and their dependants who are in need, hardship or distress. She called her walk All the 4s - 4 the boys 4 the families 4 the fallen 4 ever.

3.         The importance of our Charity is highlighted by Capt Ian Robinson, 1st Battalion Welfare Officer, in the June 10 edition of Castle. On Page 69 Ian writes: “The Welfare Office is supported by many people and organisations, most notably Selly Oak, which is quite outstanding.  I would like, however, to highlight the fact that although all essential expenses are covered by the MOD, it is the The Royal Anglian Regiment Benevolent Charity that provides for the extras.  For example, the Welfare Officer taking the soldiers at Headley Court out for a meal and a pint or, in one case, funding a flight for an Aunt to come from Dubai to the UK and support a family whose Viking was on critical care for a month.  So, if any of you are looking to raise funds for a charity, look close to home and pick our own Regimental Benevolent Fund.  The current crop of wounded soldiers will tell you it is well worth it”.

4.         Those wishing to donate to All the 4s can still do so online at www.allthe4s.co.uk  or by printing off and completing the attached Gift Aid Declaration and forwarding it with a cheque to Regimental Headquarters.

MINDEN DAY REUNION: SUNDAY 1 AUGUST 2010

5.         The Regiment will celebrate the 251st Anniversary of the Battle of Minden in the grounds behind the Keep in Bury St Edmunds on Sunday 1st August 2010. The celebrations will follow the same format as previous annual Minden Day reunions of The Suffolk Regiment Association and The Royal Anglian Regiment Association (Suffolk).  The day will start at 1115 hours with a Drumhead Service.  This will be followed by a Parade and March Past by the Old Comrades and the 3rd Battalion Band. The salute will be taken by the President of The Suffolk Regiment Association Brigadier Tony Calder.  The Suffolk Regiment Museum will be open.  There will be a new display telling the history of The Suffolk Regiment in Afghanistan in the 19th Century and of the recent 1st Battalion tours on the ground floor of The Keep.  A number of bands will provide musical entertainment throughout the afternoon.  The Corps of Drums of the 1st Battalion and The Band and Corps of Drums of the 3rd Battalion will provide a musical finale to the day. The day has become a reunion for all generations from every part of The Regiment and is very much a family occasion.  It is an excellent opportunity to meet old friends and comrades. All members of the Regimental Family are warmly invited to attend. 
Further details can be obtained from the Area Secretary (Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire) Lt Col Tony Slater (Tel: 01284 752394; E Mail: ahqbse@rhqroyalanglian.org.uk ) 

APPOINTMENTS

6.        RHQ has been informed of the following changes in appointments:

 

 
COMMISSIONS

7.         The Regiment congratulates the following officers:

 

BATTALION ACTIVITIES

 

8.         1st Battalion

June was a hectic period of parades and reorganisation for the Battalion, which finished by moving from the Op HERRICK 11 organisation to a more conventional Light Role Battalion layout.  This allowed us to spread the newly arrived soldiers among the more experienced and re-establish B (Suffolk) Company as a rifle company.  The reorganisation is the start of the Battalion’s preparations for exercises in Kenya in the New Year.

June began, however, with a flutter rather than a bang, as members of the Officers’ and Sergeants’ messes headed to Derby Day on 5 June. A good day was had by all and if there were any big winners they are keeping it firmly to themselves!

The main body of the Battalion returned from leave on 7 June and got straight into preparing for a busy week of Homecoming Parades across East Anglia. Company Sergeant Majors and the RSM had their work cut out with revising the Battalion in rifle drill, Colour Party drill and the formats of the parades. Their efforts were not in vain as the drill and turnout of the soldiers was of the highest standard and a credit to The Regiment. The Battalion marched through Huntingdon, Cambridge, Ely, Barking, Southend and Norwich.  All of the parades were attended by the public in their thousands and this support was voluble and hugely appreciated by all those Vikings involved.  In addition to these parades, 60 Vikings led by Sergeant Major Goodman participated in the 11 Brigade Homecoming Parade and Memorial Service in Winchester on 23 June.  This was one of the largest homecoming parades so far in the UK, with representatives of all the units that were under the command of 11 Brigade.  The Duchess of Cornwall took the salute at the parade and the service was held in Winchester Cathedral. 

The Battalion has also supported several other public events. On 17 June a reception for Essex dignitaries was held at County Hall Chelmsford. Its theme was Afghanistan and Major Chris Davies, OC  C (Essex) Company, led a team of soldiers in a presentation on their involvement in Op HERRICK 11.  Armed Forces day on 26 June also saw C (Essex) Company send a contingent to Havering, whilst D (Cambridgeshire) Company sent troops to help at the Bogner Regis celebrations.
Away from the public stage the Battalion continued with its military training with 2 young  and promising teams being entered in the 12 Brigade Skill At Arms Meeting. They came a respectable 3rd and 5th, but 2nd overall, against strong opposition. The RSO supported a United States Marine Corps Regimental Combat Team pre deployment exercise at Camp Pendleton, California, mainly by adding friction with his British accent!  D Company inspected Woking ACF and found a very well organised and keen detachment.

As part of the Battalions’ support to the wider Regimental Family, 2Lt Garner led a group of seven Viking soldiers on the Royal Anglian Regiment Association pilgrimage to Normandy between 4 -7 June.  Their thanks go to the Regimental Council who assisted in the funding and to those who organised what was a humbling and fascinating trip, particularly as they were accompanied by Suffolk and Essex Regiment D Day veterans. Thanks also to Les Amis du Suffolk Régiment at the village of Collville-Montgomery for their hospitality and continued preservation of the ‘Hillman’ position.

9.         2nd Battalion

June has been a month of travel for the 2nd Battalion, with exercises in Warminster, Thetford, Otterburn and Salisbury Plain, characterising the transient nature of mission specific training for Afghanistan.

The beginning of the month saw the majority of the Battalion spend a week in Warminster at the Combined Arms Tactical Training (CATT) facility. Whilst the HQ was tested, the rifle companies learnt to operate vehicles and dismounts in a virtually simulated Afghanistan setting. Conducting real time operations in this virtual world, the training offered an excellent opportunity for the Battle Group to work together without the normal restrictions of space and resources, whilst at the same time allowing CATT to offer useful advice.

After a brief weeks respite in Germany, the Battalion again returned to the UK for a confirmatory exercise in Thetford under the tutelage of OPTAG. An exceptional training package saw soldiers faced with real Afghan civilians as they patrolled through painstakingly recreated villages and compounds. This element of realism even stretched to the casualties, with real life amputees from ‘Amputees in Action’ practicing troop’s first aid knowledge.

After the fast paced week in Thetford, the Battalion moved up to the Scottish border at Otterburn for a week of combined arms live firing. Ideal weather conditions saw the Battle Group practice the full extent of its capability, with fire support groups, attack helicopters, mortars, artillery and air support all working together to ensure training was as realistic as possible.

The final days of the month saw the Battalion close its circuitous route of the UK and move to Salisbury Plain training area to participate in a week long 16 Brigade exercise prior to finally returning home to Germany.

Back in Germany, the families have begun the long process of packing belongings in preparation for the move to Cyprus, whilst taking full benefit of the German summer. In preparation, the Welfare Officer has already departed in order to smooth the transition of moving over one hundred and seventy families from one foreign location to another.

Upon its return to Germany, the Battalion looked forward to an intensive course of drill in preparation for receipt of the Freedom of Celle on 15 July, before the final push of activity to move families and freight prior to the handover to the Fusiliers.

10.        3rd Battalion

The Battalion have 16 soldiers deployed on Op HERRICK 12 and suffered our first casualty evacuation, when LCpl O’Malley was returned to Selly Oak having been injured by an IED whilst on patrol with the 1 MERCIAN BG.  He has suffered ankle and lower leg injury, but these are not life or limb threatening and he is making a steady recovery.  Cpl Roach has continued to send weekly situation reports back from the remainder, who are working hard in the busy Babaji area.

The remainder of the Battalion has continued with COIN Training and, on a gloriously sunny first weekend of the month, deployed to Lydd Ranges.  A series of COIN ranges, including the CQBR (Urban), Top Cover, Moving Target and Sangar/High Rise shoots were conducted, in order to prepare platoons for the highlight of the training - the Defended House.  Platoons deployed into the House for a 4 hour period and engaged with a full range of weapons, conducted casevac and resupply and tested their command and fire control.  For many this was some of the best field firing that they had conducted and for all, many lessons were learnt. 

The month also saw the 49 (E) Brigade Patrol Competition.  Teams from B, C and E companies forewent the England World Cup game and competed on a wet weekend on STANTA.  They progressed around a series of 10 stands based on the expertise of the various Brigade units, with Capt Horner running the Village Patrol stand and WO2 Asker running a Section Assault stand.  This years competition was extremely close with E Company under Lt Hart coming in 3rd, B Company under Sgt Walker 4th and C Company, despite only being a few points behind the others, came 9th.   

There has also been a lot of Community Engagement activity; this started with the CO, RSM and 10 soldiers (from 11 and 12 Platoons) being invited to a reception by the Poulters in Armourers Hall in the City of London.  This was followed by the start of the Cadet 150 events, with the Band and Corps of Drums leading 600 cadets through the streets of Norwich.  The Battalion has also been supporting the Vikings with their busy Freedom Parade schedule throughout East Anglia. 

Op TOSCA planning continues apace with a 5th Division Planning conference, followed by a Battalion one focused on individual courses.  In addition, the CO has started a tour of sub units, including talking to 211 Battery 104 Regiment RA (our attached gunners) at their TA Centre in the Welsh valleys.

July will start with the final COIN Training weekend, Ex STEELBACK ENFORCER III, a Battalion FTX on Swynnerton Training Area, with a group of our soldiers going to the Houses of Parliament, in order to talk to our local MPs about the last Afghanistan tour.

 

All the 4s
Sponsored Charity Walk 16 – 25 July 2010
4 the boys 4 the families 4 the fallen 4 ever

Go to www.allthe4s.co.uk