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EXERCISE AFRICAN THORN
FROM BEARSKINS TO BUSH HATS!
Number One Company recently deployed on
Exercise to Africa for Six weeks, below is an article written exclusively
for ShinyCapstar, further down are a couple of images from the Exercise -
also, don't forget to check out the video that's on the ShinyCapstar YouTube
account on Exercise African Thorn.
Exercise African Thorn
by 2Lt Mills
Number 1 Company left Windsor on the 18th of
January ready for a hard exercise in the North of South Africa at the South
African Combat Training Centre Lohatla, in a region known to the locals as
the ‘Green Kalahari’. With a short stop at the beautiful Ascension Islands
on route the change in the pace of life could not have been different after
a long period of Queen’s Guard prior to our departure. For many of the
Guardsman this was their first experience of a foreign country and to step
off the plane into 35 degree heat was quite a shock.
On Patrol during African Thorn
The South African Army Combat Training Centre was to provide the base for
our rigorous training that was in store for the coming weeks. An area 64 km
North to South and half that East to West gave us a wide range of areas in
which to train undisturbed. After a brief period of acclimatization and a
number of BBQ’s or ‘Braais’ something we were all soon to become accustomed
to, it was time under the control of the platoon staff to move out into the
field for 9 days un-interrupted platoon training. Covering all the skills
that would be necessary in the later stages of the exercise and particularly
in the FTX, these nine days were spent getting the Platoon’s off the ground.
Coming back in off the area and with all the Platoon’s having worked
extremely hard it was time to relax and conduct administration, before once
again going into the field. This time it was with the company under the
direction of the range team conducting a wide variety of range packages. The
live firing was enjoyed by all and let all the Guardsman get used to the
weapons systems that they will be using in the coming months. The
penultimate day of the package saw the Mortar Platoon conducting a firepower
demonstration, which was an opportunity for the rifle platoons’ to see the
mortars in action. Ten lucky Guardsmen got the chance to fire the 81mm
Mortar with the Platoon Staff calling in the fire from an OP located close
to the impact area. On the final day of the live firing package, The South
African public along with many military guests from both the UK and the
Combat Training Centre Lohatla were fortunate enough to sit in on a fire
power demonstration hosted by the Number One Company Group. All weapons
including the L96 Sniper Rifle and the GPMG to name but a few were present
and demonstrated in testing conditions, with the highlight of the day being
a Platoon attack complete with a live L109 Grenade being thrown.
Having completed the ranges and once again finding ourselves back in camp we
took the two days we had to rest and recuperate in the surrounding towns.
Kathu the major town in the region provided a golf course for a little bit
of gamesmanship with some of the locals as well as most importantly a
fantastic swimming pool which would become a favourite with the Company.
Also, a chance to go and sample some local burger houses made a refreshing
change from 2 weeks on rations. There was however still 5 hard days of
exercise still on the horizon.
The final exercise was to involve a Company level attack on the last day
with a progressive build up from Section to Platoon and then to Company
level in the first few days. The Company moved a number of times over the 5
days occupying both Platoon and Company harbor locations. The local wildlife
always provided interesting obstacles whether it be Lt Powell coming into
contact with a Spitting Cobra which was in his words, “Much scarier than Sgt
Goldthorpe” or 2Lt Mills running a mile when he found a particularly vicious
form of South African Guinea Pig eating his bacon and beans.
Having completed the military training it was now time for the Company to
embark on a 4 day decompression phase that would include a rotation around
three locations in the East of the country. The first location was a safari
at the Nambiti Game Reserve run by Percy Montgomery the infamous South
African rugby star. Each of the three parties moving in this rotation saw a
variety of animals including Lions, Elephants and Rhinos. The second
location in the hills above Winterton provided a bed and some hot food, all
that was needed prior to the adrenaline filled day that was to follow. The
second day of the trip saw 40 Guardsman manoeuvring themselves down some of
the most vicious rapids in the Natal region. One of the instructors who in 7
years on the river had only thrown his safety line once, managed to throw
his line five times in the 3 hours that Number 1 Company spent on the river.
However, no one was injured and everyone enjoyed themselves immensely.
One, of many rocks, available to pose on - for group shots, whilst on
Exercise African Thorn
The 3rd day of the rotation provided the Guardsmen with a chance to relax at
Majuba Lodge in Newcastle (a slightly different Newcastle than many were
accustomed to). Two hours from the hotel were the battlefields of Rorke’s
Drift and Isandlwana. Accompanied by a very knowledgeable battlefield guide,
the groups were given an insight into how 1400 British and Native soldiers
were destroyed by 20000 Zulus armed with Spears and Shields at Isandlwana,
and then how later, 100 Soldiers held off 4000 Zulus at Rorke’s Drift. The
Battlefield Tour was an immensely thought provoking experience which was
enjoyed by all.
After a very relaxing period of decompression everyone returned to camp
ready to pack the equipment and head off back to the UK. For everyone
concerned, Exercise African Thorn was an opportunity to improve their
military skills in challenging conditions and to experience life in a
foreign country. And one which was enjoyed by all.
2Lt Mills
The ones that made it to the end of African
Thorn
Click image above to enlarge
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