This is the first Fusilier News of 2011 and the first since Nov 10. Staffing and preparation for SDRS has been at the heart of much of RHQs effort in recent months. A host of studies are underway many of which could have an effect on the Regiment for both serving personnel and the manner in which RHQs and AHQs are structured and the work they do. Included in a separate study is Regimental Museums and MOD support to them. I know there has been a good deal of gossip out in the Shires much of which is not based upon fact. You will all be aware that the Defence Budget has a huge deficit and that this must be tackled over the coming few years. That said, no decisions have yet been promulgated by the Chain of Command that will directly affect the Regiment. We must, however, be prepared for change and ensure that if and when it comes we are in the best position possible to deal with it effectively and efficiently; this has been at the core of the work that is still ongoing. As soon as an order is received I will keep the Regimental family informed immediately of the decision and the action the Regiment will take. Until then it is business as usual for the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.
1 RRF
The Battalion had a good Xmas leave and went almost straight onto Ex PASHTUN DAGGER on Salisbury Plain. Elements of 7 Armd Bde are also involved in the Ex with their new commander Brig Nanson, RRF deployed forward. More on this Ex will be in the next Fusilier News.
X COY BCR Cohort
In the weeks leading up to Battalion Christmas leave, X Coy BCR Cohort completed their Pre Deployment Training in Thetford along with the other 16 Brigade Battle Casualty Replacements (BCRs). The week was hard work but provided good training in mock Afghan compounds and added realism to the end of an already productive PDT package. Both troops on the ground and back in the Operations Room were tested against up to date insurgent tactics with the support of the most current technology available to British Forces in Afghanistan.
The X Coy BCRs then deployed to Afghanistan to conduct Reception Staging and Onward Integration (RSOI). Thoughts of sun and hot weather were soon forgotten as the weather seemed similar to that in the UK with Gore-Tex, warm kit and leather boots on standby! Whilst there, the Fusiliers were visited by Capt Matt Clarke as he returned from R&R, currently in theatre with 1 IRISH GUARDS, during one of the range days which provided a friendly face with whom to share experiences.
The RSOI was enjoyed by all ranks, and proved an incredibly useful final training tool, bringing previous skills and drills up to date with the current operational climate and adding new information not previously covered in PDT. This included getting hands on the latest weaponry such as the LASM (Light Anti Structural Munition) and conducting live compound clearance ranges. X Coy BCRs also had a chance to meet up with Lt Col Swift, CO 1 RRF (des) who was heading up the Bastion Training Centre.
Christmas leave provided the UK based BCRs with a chance to spend time with family and friends and to have a break from the rigorous training of the past few months. Returning to work however, the training continued along with the remaining 16 Brigade BCRs from 2 & 3 PARA, the ROYAL IRISH, 2 & 5 SCOTS and the IRISH GUARDS. This has consisted of a week long range package in Bulford, run by X Coy, where the exercising troops tested their skills on static ranges including the Annual Combat Marksmanship Test (ACMT(CI) and more varied shoots such as Moving Target and Close Quarter Marksmanship practices.
Currently X Coy has men deployed in Afghanistan with the Brigade Reconnaissance Force, 2 PARA, 3 PARA, 2 SCOTS and 5 SCOTS. They are all doing well, proving to be good ambassadors for the Regiment.
Skiing
At the end of last year Captain Tom Phillips (1 RRF) led a mixed infantry team from ITC Catterick to the Infantry Alpine Skiing Championships in Val D’Isere as a part of Exercise Frosted Blade XXVI. Running from 28 Nov 10 to 8 Jan 11, the exercise consisted of a month long training camp teaching the four major alpine skiing disciplines followed by a one week competition on the Olympic Slopes consisting of Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super G and Downhill. Teams from across the Infantry attended bringing 62 competitors to the exercise. The championships are open to all abilities with the aims of bringing everyone up to the standard required to be able to compete in the competition.
Being predominantly a team of novices Capt Phillips and the 1ITB team had to work hard in order to quickly improve and begin event training but they ensured that they left time to sample the excellent hospitality shown to them by the Val D’Isere resort as well. Training continued over Christmas and the whole team braved the slopes on Christmas Day despite the wind chill factor of nearly minus 30˚C. Due to the loss of one member, Lt Charlie Powell of 2 Royal Anglian) as a result of some truly spectacular crashes, 1ITB were unfortunately placed out of the running for the number one spot in the competition but continued to battle on to finish in 6th place overall.
Boxing
In Jan the boxing team of 1 RRF took on some of the best boxers in Bolton at a star studded night of boxing. The fixture between a strong team from the Bolton Lads and Girls Club and the Fusiliers is now in its second year and saw the Fusiliers again emerge triumphant, with a 4 – 2 victory. The event held as a fund raiser for the Bolton Lads and Girls Club, where Amir Khan first picked up boxing gloves, helped raise over £60,000 for the club and attracted former boxers Ricky Hatton and Dave Green as celebrity guests. Despite the strength of the opposition the Fusiliers fought with pride and courage and managed to convincingly beat their hosts. All six bouts were of the highest standard and has prepared the 1st Battalion for its first match in the Army Championships with 26 Engineers.
Officers’ Mess
For the Officers, the significant event of January was the return of the newly refurbished mess in Mooltan Barracks. It had been a long year since moving out last January to the temporary mess in Ludgershall, initially for 6 months, however this soon slipped to a full year. Despite the pain, all agree that moving twice and living in temporary accommodation was worth it. The move coincided with the end of OC W Company, Major Hamish Macpherson’s reign as PMC and the baton was passed to OC Y Company, Major Edd Sutthery.
Mortar Training
Having been away on the Mortar Platoon Commander’s course, Capt Tom Atkinson was keen to justify that he could do more than eat cheese. The course is ten weeks long and is based at the Support Weapons School Mortar Division at the Infantry Training Centre Warminster. It has a well deserved reputation for taking Infantry Officers from “zero to hero” on the 81mm Medium Mortar and the newly introduced 60mm light Mortar in both the direct and in-direct fire roles. Officers graduate to become the subject matter experts and the Commanding Officer’s advisor on all matters mortaring (ably backed up and steered where necessary by the Mortar Pl NCOs). Contrary to popular belief, there are a number of challenges throughout the course for the aspiring Officer. The CFT entrance test (where one Captain (not RRF), a WO2 and several SNCOs fell by the wayside) numerous weapon handling tests, theory tests, the ubiquitous range work as well as the formidable Warminster Cheese Board to be tackled twice a day – this is no gentleman’s course.
The final few weeks of the course are aimed at the role of the Pl Comd and the 2IC, in camp, on the range and on operations and this was brought home with a very good presentation from the Grenadier Guards who were the most recent Mortar Pl to come back from Op HERRICK. Overall the course was excellent and interesting, it details the intricacies of the art of mortaring, the time it takes to bed-in, adjust the fire, the flexibility and the accuracy that can be achieved with indirect fire – it also serves to create and feed a fierce rivalry with the Royal Artillery!
After a well deserved Christmas leave, the Second Fusiliers returned to work revitalised. Within days of the return, however, the barracks again looked almost deserted, as the soldiers spread to the four winds on a vast array of internal and external courses and exercises.
January has seen the Second Battalion run a Lance Corporal’s Development Cadre, in order to keep JNCOs at the top of their game; an Infantry Signals Cadre to maintain communications down to the lowest level; and driver courses to ensure the Battalions is qualified and manned to drive the latest additions to its vehicle fleet. These activities were in addition to career and qualification courses in the UK and Germany, not to mention providing a large percentage of Officers and SNCOs to support 7 Brigades Mission Rehearsal Exercise on Salisbury Plain (which is still ongoing at the time of writing).
JNCO Development Cadre
Over the week 17 – 21 January the Battalion ran a LCpl) Development Cadre. The aim of this was to develop the more junior LCpls and maintain the skills of those more senior in order to ensure the standard of 2RRF LCpls remains high.
The cadre was not designed to teach new skills, but rather to ensure those taught previously were revised and tested. It was also designed to give an insight into the role of Corporal, the next logical progression. The Cadre was run over a period of 5 days and consisted of basic military fitness tests including the obligatory stretcher race. It was here that the young bloods could attempt to show what they were made of and they succeeded with the RSM hobbling for a good day or so after the event. Less physical activity comprised; confidence building exercises, in the form of preparing and delivering lessons in front of peers, map reading and practical navigation exercises by day and night, basic military knowledge, values and standards of the British Army and the combat estimate and orders process.
The students’ feedback was positive and included some notable achievements. Whilst some passed the tests with impressive results, others struggled initially due to a little skill fade, but all eventually revised forgotten lessons, and are now better commanders for the experience.
Lance Corporals’ Visit to Bergen Belsen
It was Winston Churchill who, slightly misquoting somebody else said, “those that fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it." This was part of the thought behind a tour of Bergen Belsen Concentration Camp, which took place during the 2RRF L/Cpl Cadre on 21 January.
The visit began with a brief look at how Bergen Belsen came into existence. Originally a camp for the workers who built the new Army camp just down the road at Hohne, it then became a Concentration Camp. Some prisoners arrived in 1940, though the first major group to arrive were Russian prisoners in July 1941, and Bergen Belsen was officially designated as Stalag 311. Of the 20,000 who arrived in July, 18,000 were dead by the following February. They were not victims of gas chambers but died of starvation and the freezing winter cold.
After the opening brief, the visit moved to the area of Belsen itself. The scale model made the distinction of the different camps within a camp even clearer. By the time Belsen was liberated by the 11th Armoured Division on 15 April 1945 the camp system had broken down and the remaining inmates had been ravaged by hunger and disease. All paused at the replica of the first memorial to the dead, a huge cross blessed during Mass by a priest who had been an inmate of the camp, before moving to the main wall with its messages of remembrance. In all, a sobering and thoughtful visit with a brutal reminder from history of what happens when humanity is devalued and ultimately denied.
Battalion Driver Training
The Battalion has made great inroads into achieving driver qualifications, with over 115 Cat C driving licences achieved, and is now into a programme of converting those drivers to the various vehicles for the continued Small Scale Contingency Battlegroup (SSC BG) commitment. The unit is taking a steady delivery of vehicles such as the RWIMK, RWIMK+ and VECTOR with each vehicle course taking one week to complete. Cpl Tandathu and LCpl Burke are currently teaching the VECTOR courses and gaining plenty of driving experience at the demanding Bergen Hohne cross-country driver training area.
In Feb there will be three back to back RWIMK courses run for Fire Support Company. The vehicle with the 50 Cal HMG mounted will be the main vehicle used by the Fire Support Groups if the Battalion deploys. On a lighter note each company will have a qualified D1 mini bus driver, in preparation for the PRI mini bus which should arrive shortly.
Team Medic Training
On 24 – 26 Jan the Battalion ran a Team Medic Cadre. This is a real battlefield essential qualification. The Fusiliers were taught essential battlefield life saving drills over a three day course and awarded a Team Medic qualification valid for 2 years.
The instructor for the course was Cpl Mark Whiteley, an RCMT 1 Team Medic Instructor. After a brief introduction the soldiers moved straight into theory and practical skills which will ultimately save life and limb on the battlefield. Practical skills are now taught using realistic battle casualty dummies.
Some of you may remember the ABC method of first aid (Airway, Breathing, Circulation), the amount of alphabet soup now used in triage has increased somewhat. The students are taught CABCDE ( Catastrophic Haemorrhage, Airway/cervical spine, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure ). Following this the students also cover Basic Life Support. Like any other modern military course there is a tough assessment and test at the end.
Students have to treat casualty with multiple injuries following all the correct procedures to be awarded their qualification.
Battalion Football – The Infantry Cup
The short break over the New Year saw a pause in the football calendar. On 19 January, however, the Battalion took on 5 Rifles in the Infantry Cup. The team was assembled and the Battalion was missing some regular ‘footballing gladiators’, although this gave some of the next generation of players a chance to shine. The scene was set, the flag of St George flying high in the bitter breeze, the pitch still frosty, the players arrived ready to go, both teams knowing that they must win. Within 4 minutes the Fusiliers were 2 goals up both scored by LCpl Rochford (Who went on to achieve a hat-trick in the closing minutes) an excellent start, 5 Rifles were battled hard but the Fusiliers held fast. The final score was 5-2 to the Second Fusiliers.
The next game in the Infantry Cup is the quarter final against 3 Rifles in Edinburgh on 4 March, congratulations to the team so far and good luck in the rest of the competition.
February 10
Looking forward to February the Second Battalion will be conducting some field firing up to section level in preparation for a number of future exercises. The Battalion skiing exercise in the Hartz Mountains will be concluded and hopefully a number of soldiers will be away on Exercise SNOW WARRIOR, a collection of 10 day skiing events organised by the Adventure Training Group (Germany) ATG(G). Preparation for the impending Combined Inspection Week is gathering momentum and is the main focus for the Battalion in conjunction with build up training for field firing later in the year.
The last few months have been heavily disrupted by the adverse winter weather affecting the whole of the 5RRF. This lead to a number of training weekends and drill nights being cancelled because soldiers could not access the drill halls and the local training areas were inaccessible. The Christmas Weekend planned to be held at Warcop from 10 – 12 Dec 10 was the most notable casualty. Since then the Battalion has held two training weekends focused on preparation for Op HERRICK.
X Coy – Newcastle
November and December were quiet months for the majority of X Coy, and indeed 5 RRF. November of course saw Armistice Weekend appropriately marked with the annual parade through Newcastle City Centre. The parade was extremely well attended by the public and support for the Armed Forces seems to increase every year.
The final weekend of the year before Christmas stand down is normally one of the less arduous weekends of the training calendar. Due to the upcoming operational commitments, this year was different with a number of training objectives related to the Contemporary Operation Environment being incorporated into a Inter-Company Competition. Unfortunately, the weather had somewhat different plans, with the training facilities at Warcop being declared unusable and the Christmas Training Weekend was held in St Georges TA Centre. A number of Mandatory Training Tets (MATTs) were accomplished, and the troops enjoying a social event before going their separate ways over Christmas. The somewhat limited training facilities didn’t prevent OC X Coy, Major Hindmarch, coming up with a highly original way of ensuring some tactical training was undertaken; 100 tennis balls used as ammunition for basic ‘fire and manoeuvre’ training!
Some of X Coy personnel had a slightly more demanding December. Fusiliers Binks, McIntyre, and Pill all passed the TA Potential Junior NCO course at ITC Catterick, and the Coy hopes they will be promoted imminently. All three served on Op HERRICK 10 so have recent operational experience. Fusiliers Barras, Carr, Crawford, Lambert and Saul also got to experience the delights of a snow-bound Catterick, passing the TA CIC in December. The Bn is looking forward to many more Fusiliers passing Phase 2 Infantry Training in the coming months.
Z Coy – Ashington
As well as supporting the traditional Remembrance Sunday parade through Ashington this year the company also attended a church service and parade through Alnwick accompanied by the Honorary Colonel (Col, Lord James Percy) who laid a wreath on behalf of the Regiment. Prior to the parade on the Saturday the company held a charity triathlon event organised by the CQMS (CSgt Smith) which included running, cycling and rowing to cover the equivalent distance of Ashington to Kabul. The event began in the TAC at 1600hrs on Fri 12 Nov and moved onto Ashington high street at 0900hrs the following, day finishing at 1600hrs on the Saturday. Overall the company raised almost £4000.00 (of which £1800 was raised on Ashington high street) the remainder was raised through sponsorship. The money raised was shared between Help for Heroes and a local charity the Laura Dodds Fund. (Ed; a great effort but FAS would have welcomed a percentage share)
The company held its annual Christmas party in the TAC on Sat 18 Dec 10 which was a great success. The theme was fancy dress this year with Fus Pringle claiming the honour with his impersonation of Mr T. Thanks must go to Cpl Moore (and family) and LCpl Goodfellow for organising the event.
In recent weeks the Coy has welcomed; 2Lt James Gostling from 32 Regt Royal Signals, CSgt Neil Redpath returning from OP TOSCA, following a lengthy spell with 15 Bde and Fus Anderson. The Company has said a sad farewell to Fus Littlefear who recently transferred to 159 Supply Regt RLC. Congratulations are due to Fusiliers Michalowics, Houghton, Rowell, Barwick, Hornsby and Davison on completing the Combat Infantryman Course (CIC) at ITC Catterick. Fus Michalowics won Best Student on the course.
D Coy – Bishop Auckland
While the latter part of the training year was impacted by Siberian weather the Company continued with a busy training and social programme of events. Over the traditional Battalion Christmas weekend annual training tests completed with a focus on fitness levels. A number of guest speakers including a Team Medic and a C-IED instructor with recent operational experience gave outstanding lectures.. In November the company supported Remembrance events across the North East and Yorkshire with the main events being held in Durham, Bishop Auckland and Doncaster. The Remembrance Weekend also marked the launch of the transformed, Junior Ranks bar at Bishop Auckland which includes a collection of photos dedicated to the memory of the late Cpl Lee Brownson QGC (3 RIFLES) who lived in Bishop Auckland and started his army career as a cadet in Bishop Auckland TA Centre.
Toward the end of last year the Coy held a new and improved Officer and SNCO’s dinner night for over 50 members and guests. The night was a great success and has raised the bar for this type of function across the Battalion.
HQ Coy – Durham
HQ Coy held its Christmas Weekend at Gilesgate TAC in Durham bringing the disparate departments together. The troops were kept busy with MATTs training and low level skills and drills training, interspersed with necessary administration in preparation for the combined inspection week in February. This was followed by the traditional Christmas Dinner capably prepared by Sgt Johnson, which judging by the clear plates was enjoyed by all. Following the meal there was a Karaoke competition in the JRC and some hardy soles braved the cold to head down town into Durham.
…next column
Sunday saw St Mary’s Church Warwick packed with over 600 members of the Association and guests, the service was truly uplifting with the Colours of the First Battalion marched in slow time to The McBean Slow March for placing on the Altar. The Warwickshire Band played rousing music and as always Canon Keith Punshon gave a superb sermon. The sun shone as the Association left church and formed up on Warwick Market Square along with the First Fusiliers Guards and Colour Party for the inspection by the Colonel of the Regiment and Area Colonels. The march headed by the First Battalion Corps of Drums through Warwick attracted much applause from local people and tourists. A most relaxing lunch followed at Warwick School which gave the opportunity for the Colonel of the Regiment to update an audience in excess of 400 on the Regiment and future trends in the Infantry.
The Elizabeth Cross and Memorial Scroll was presented by the Lord Lieutenant and Area Colonel to Mrs Doreen Foxall on 13 December 2010 in memory of her son, Fusilier Thomas Foxall who was tragically killed in a traffic accident in Northern Ireland in 1980.
December saw the first Army Cadet Force Fusilier join the Branch and he was duly presented with the Regimental Association tie at the Christmas Dinner. Sadly there have been 2 deaths of Association members; Major Alan Mountford TD ERD who served in 7th Bn The Royal Warwickshire Regiment (TA) and was a strong supporter of the Sheldon Branch, and Mr Les Britton who saw service with 1St Bn The Royal Warwickshire Regiment and was the Birmingham Branch Treasurer for 15 years.
The Museum project continues apace with all the galleries now emptied and redecorated. The inner doors that contain asbestos were removed in the first week of February and the new glass doors are being fitted in the second week of February. The photographs of the asbestos screening say it all. The new display cabinets also go in on February and the displays will be returned in March with the soft opening still scheduled for 4th April. This all happened despite last minute interference from English Heritage who wanted the newly revealed flagstones in the entrance way and hall to be reinstated. After some wrangling it was agreed that the project could proceed with programmed carpeting. Despite all this work, functions are still taking place and the venue will be considerably enhanced for receptions with the more visitor friendly and open spaced galleries.
A very productive cadet conference for all Fusilier detachments in London was held on 19 January and a matrix for support has been forwarded to the 1st Battalion. At the same time officers for the new cadet branch were elected and this is now being taken forward. Membership will be drawn from all cadet adult fusiliers in London. Those cadets who have reached maturity and left the cadets will also be eligible for membership.
The first presentation of the ‘Simon Annis Cup’ took place at Salford College just before Christmas. The Cup was presented by Peter and Ann Annis in memory of their son, Fusilier Simon Annis. The cup is awarded to the winners of the Salford College Football Competition. Due to the poor weather conditions it was played indoors and reduced to a five aside completion. Nevertheless it was well contested with several teams participating. After overcoming stiff competition the Staff Team from the College won. They were undoubtedly the better team but put pressure on the student teams by mentioning exams and poor marks. The cup was presented to the winning team by Ann Annis.
As has been previously reported the Fusilier Museum puts together at least two temporary exhibitions each year. This ensures that repeat visitors always have something new to see and allows additional material to come out of store from the Reserve Collections. The new display replaced the Afghanistan Exhibition and was inspired by the experience of 2 RRF on Public Duties. The exhibition displays clothing and equipment and explains a little about the role of ceremonial duties in the army today. There is a particularly fine display of the 1897 infantry pattern sword, from Queen Victoria to Queen Elizabeth II, which features a rare sword with the cipher of King Edward VIII. The display also shows a very fine Fusilier Sword presented to one Captain Tony Adamson on commissioning, (it won’t be long before we have Tony stuffed and mounted and put on display). The old Afghanistan display will not go to waste as the bulk of the material and interpretation boards are about to be transferred to the Fusilier Museum in Warwick. 
There are now some 25 volunteers working in the Museum. It has taken time and a considerable amount of work to build up this trusty band of stalwarts, but it has been worth the effort. There is no doubt that without volunteers the Fusilier Museum would be unable to function. Volunteers are involved in all aspects of museum work from collection care to research and even provide administrative support in the Museum Office. In return for their hard work the museum offers training and assists where possible those volunteers who wish to progress further. As such I am pleased to announce that museum volunteer Matthew Weaver has just been accepted for officer training by the United States Marine Corps, and you all thought that working in the Fusilier Museum was a soft option.
The RRF Gallery features a children’s play area which includes a dressing up area. Despite some reservations, with regard to the sighting of a kid’s play area in the RRF Gallery, it has proved very popular and has introduced a considerable number of families to the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. The demand on this area has had its drawbacks and the clothing and equipment originally purchased for the kid’s area is now in need of replacement. Into the breech has stepped Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force. GMACF has signed up to sponsor the children’s dressing up area with the provision of suitable clothing and headgear. This is an important endorsement for the Fusilier Museum and recognition of the impact that the museum has had on the community
The Bury Recruiting Office continues to perform well and are the top performing recruiting office in the northwest at 198% of target. They recently signed up Chelsea Walsh, the daughter of Linsay Walsh the Administrative Officer of the Lancashire Headquarters and Danielle Ashton daughter of Cath in the Tourist Information Centre. All close to home but not quite as close as the Kings’ Division Recruiting Team based at Fulwood Barracks who were so desperate for recruits they signed up the milkman! All true. 
Staff from the Headquarters, Fusilier Museum and Tourist Information Centre commemorated the anniversary of the Battle of Spion Kop, by laying a wreath at the Boer War Fusilier Memorial in Bury. The battle took place on 24th January 1900 as part of General Sir Redvers Buller’s advance to relieve Ladysmith. The Lancashire Fusiliers were tested to the limit during the battle but as a result earned the right to wear the Primrose Hackle. The Primrose Hackle was always worn on the left side of the headdress as a battle honour.