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‘A’ Company by Maj Boyle


OC: Maj S Boyle 2ic:


Capt S Cupples CGC


CSM: WO2 Page CQMS: CSgt Pugsley


OC Pl Sgt


1 Platoon 2Lt Bowers Sgt Breakspear 2 Platoon 2Lt Hadland Sgt Woods 3 Platoon Lt Bell


Sgt Burrell


2008/09 has continued at the pace that the previous year set. The year since March 2008 has disappeared in a whirlwind of exercises and pre-deployment training. The Company is now mentally and physically ready for the imminent return to Helmand, back to Garmsir and back under command of the Light Dragoons in Battle Group South. Ptes Cooper and Cole continue to be in our thoughts during their continuing rehabilitation from wounds received on Op Herrick 6. We all wish them well with their recovery. It has been fantastic to see Pte Parrott return to duty, fully recovered from his wounds. He’ll be patrolling over the same ground in Garmsir where he was shot on the last deployment.


We have said farewell to a number of members of the Company over the year. CSgt Thomson has moved to 3 MERCIAN and is thanked for all his hard work in support of the Company, particularly on Op Herrick 6 and Ex Red Stripe. Sgt Catherwood and Cpl Keeton have left us for ITC (C) and we wish them well. We have also seen a number of promotions within the Company after successful completion of career courses: Cpls Brooks, Herberts, Birch, Cotterill and Murray. Having completed PJNCO cadres, the following are also congratulated in their new rank: LCpls Chauntry, Davis 83, Katia, Murray 03, Smith 98, Latham, Shipman, Swann, Farr, Cromwell and Betts.


A Company relax after a hard day in the jungle


These are my final notes in command of A Company and I thank all the officers and men for their professionalism and hard work on operations and exercises during my tenure. We are all looking forward to Op Herrick 10 with mixed feelings but I am confident that we shall stand firm together, strike hard when required and bring everyone back home.


Exercise Red Stripe


Life in Belfast began early in March 2008 with the build up to Ex Red Stripe in Jamaica. Range packages and plenty of fitness were conducted to prepare for the arduous conditions which we were to face in the jungles of Jamaica. The Company arrived complete in Jamaica at the end of May ready for six weeks of training designed to practise skills and drills and to expose some of the newer soldiers to Platoon level live firing and Company level operations. The Company went through three, one week long, rotations including dry firing, live firing and a Scuba diving course amongst the corals of Jamaica’s coast.


A Company in jungle school The Mercian Eagle


To begin with, the Company took part in a day of jungle lessons including a NAVEX and a survival lecture. We then went into the jungle and improvised shelters and sleeping areas using only what we could find and gather with our machetes. Bamboo, creepers and large leaves were the main component and we all managed to keep the rain out for a night and get some sleep. This was a great


way to start and we all had the opportunity to taste coconut milk and pigs we had killed but a few hours earlier. All of this was under the watchful eye of “The Examiner”, a rather unusual local with a passion for the jungle. It was a good chance to practise all the skills learnt earlier whilst pausing only to carry out a parade for The Glorious First of June under the bamboo trees.


Having completed the diving course and with three days left of the rotation, we went into a local village and started on a project to refurbish the local primary school. This continued until the end of the week when it was time for the Platoons to rotate round the other training events. We deployed back into the jungle for a week of Platoon level dry training. Each Platoon harboured up and immediately began rehearsing all aspects of Platoon level operations. The first night was spent in an Observation Post (OP) followed by a day’s worth of patrolling practice under the Section Commanders. Events included ambushes, fighting patrols and recce patrols and the week culminated in a Platoon attack against a purpose built jungle base camp.


1 Platoon at jungle base camp following Camp Attack


October 2009 33


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