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Second to None
(The Coldstream Guards Newsletter)
Edition 8
Nov 06 - Jan 07

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COLDSTREAM SNIPERS ON TARGET IN THE USA

The Sniper Platoon of the 1st Bn Coldstream Guards enjoyed international recognition at the back end of 2006 when it took part in the International Sniper Concentration in America. The Platoon spent an enjoyable 10 days in the ‘States, and produced a great result, despite having little time to prepare for the competition due to ceremonial commitments in Windsor.

The competition attracted the top Sniper teams from across NATO with the USA entering no less than 30 teams, who had spent weeks preparing for the event. The Coldstream Guards Sniper Pair of LCpls Shaw and Southall achieved 19th place, the highest scoring non-US team, with another Coldstream pair coming 26th.

The Coldstream Snipers gained enormous experience from the trip, although they were green-eyed with envy at the wealth of equipment at the disposal of the US teams!


A Coldstream sniper team extracts from their firing point after engaging a target
 

“VIVA ESPANIA”


Have I got this the right way?

No.3 COMPANY CONDUCT MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING IN THE PYRANEES

In the latter half of November 2006, No.3 Coy took part in an exchange exercise with 3rd ‘Estella’ Battalion of the 66th Regiment, Spanish Mountain Hunters Brigade. 79 Coldstreamers jetted off to the chilly clime’s of the Pyrenees (not the Costa del Sol).

During the two week stay, the Coy got their hands on Spanish infantry weapons, including the G-36/E Rifle, the Ameli Machine Gun and the LAG-40 Automatic Grenade Launcher. The Coy also received instruction on mountain warfare from Spanish instructors in order that they could take part in a short Spanish Battle Group exercise and this including several days of climbing and abseiling. Additionally, the Coy made extensive use of the local Urban Operations Training Complex (Fort Cristobal – a disused Napoleonic Fort) and learned some of the Spanish Army’s minor tactics.

The snow had not arrived in the Pyrenees at this point, however, ferocious winds and rain had! The Coy were extremely grateful for the additional cold-weather clothing that the Quartermaster had issued prior to the exercise. In addition to the work, the Coy were able to indulge in a short cultural trip to the local town of Pamplona and the Castle of Olite. There was also time to conduct a battlefield tour of Vitoria, one of the Regiment’s many brushes with glory during the Peninsular War.

After a great fortnight away, the Coy returned to Windsor just in time to see the die hards from the Hanging of the Brick being shown to their beds. After a super-quick turn around, the Coy then fell out for three weeks well deserved Christmas leave.
 

THE ITALIAN JOB


CQMS Kev Smith, aware of LSgt Thompson’s love of classical architecture, leads his staff on a cultural trip around Venice…

No.2 COMPANY DISCOVER FINE WINE, BEAUTIFUL WOMEN AND FANTASTIC PIZZAS…
OH YES, AND DO SOME TRAINING TOO!

In the latter half of November 2006, No.2 Coy were lucky enough to escape from Windsor for a two week low-key exercise in Italy. Their visit took them to the Northern part of Italy to visit an Italian Mountain Warfare unit. During the fortnight, the Coy tackled an Italian Assault Course which proved to be relatively tame by British standards. They also had the chance to get their hands on some Italian weaponry and conduct some test firing. General consensus was that the Italian standard service rifle was much of a muchness, but all members of the Coy were extremely complimentary about the Italian medium machine guns mounted on their tanks. In fact, the MGs in question were the German World War Two MG42 Spandaus, still in service today with several European armies.

Many of the young Guardsmen were also impressed by the Italian female tank commander who showed them around her vehicle. In the Italian army, women are allowed to serve in the armoured units. On the cultural side, the Coy also took a trip to Venice. Most of the culture to which they were exposed was of the wine and pizza variety of course, although the Coy seniors gamely tried to educate their men about the history and architecture of the famous city. When told that he was standing in the ‘…most romantic city on earth…’ one young Guardsman was heard to comment “…so where are all the women then?” Times may change but soldiers never do!

Back in camp, the Coldstreamers got the chance to indulge in some CQB training using the Italian weapons, with the snow-capped mountains as an inspiring back-drop. After a steady two weeks that included an England v Italy ‘friendly’ Rugby match, the weary warriors returned to Windsor, just in time for Hanging the Brick and three weeks well-earned Christmas leave.


The Coy, test-firing the Italian rifle.


The MG42 Spandau got the thumbs up.


So did the tank commander!
 

INTO THE DEVIL’S CAULDRON…

PART 2

Continued this month…

The war diary of Lance Sergeant Swift, Coldstream Guards, from his tour of Afghanistan during the Summer of 2006.

The defence of the Afghan National Army Compound at Musa’Qla:

10 Aug 06:

Yet another contact this morning; small arms and RPGs. We took 3 casualties. We got the fast air in and the Taleban went to ground. As soon as the jets had gone, they attacked again. Two further contacts today; small arms, RPGs and grenades being chucked at the sangars from nearby buildings within the deserted town. One of my ANA guys was hit in the face, but he will be OK. We were sent out on a fighting patrol tonight to destroy 3 Taleban sniper positions. The ANA soldiers worked really well.



LSgt Swift and his Afghan National Army section.


11 Aug 06:

Two contacts this morning, small arms and RPGs. We still have not been able to get our casualties from yesterday out yet. It is impossible to get a helicopter in at the moment due to heavy small arms fire from around our position. There have been various contacts throughout the day, four in total I think; RPGs flying all over the place. I am worried that once we have managed to secure this place and the coalition troops pull out, the ANA may not be able to hold the town on their own. If the Taleban come back they might over-run the place completely. I don’t fancy staying here with just the training team and the ANA if the other coalition troops pull out!

We spotted an enemy observer directing fire at us using his mobile phone. He was heavily barricaded behind a large wall so we fired a mortar at his position. The mortar bomb scored a direct hit and the sangar sentry reported seeing an arm and a leg land at this side of the wall. We haven’t received any more indirect fire since.

Editor’s note: LSgt Swift and the other members of the Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team were tasked to take their ANA recruits to Musa’Qla to support the Danish Recce Squadron who were defending it against strong Taleban incursions. The team had to fight its way into the town along with a call-sign from the Royal Irish Regiment. The defence of Musa’Qla lasted for almost three weeks.

 

GOING UP…

THE MORTAR PLATOON GO UP TO 9 TUBES

Following After Action Reports from Afghanistan, the Commanding Officer recently decreed that the Mortar Platoon should be up-scaled. As a result, the Platoon took on board reinforcements from all three Rifle Coys and an ex-Mortarman who has recently rejoined following several years in civvy street.

Accordingly, the Platoon (which now stands at 1 Officer and 38 Other Ranks) has recently thrown itself into an intensive training programme both in and out of barracks. In addition to its own live firing, it has benefited from providing live fire support to several other units conducting major exercises. As a result of the boost, the Platoon now mans 9 tubes, which means that once the Bn deploys to Afghanistan it will benefit from a considerable amount of integral fire-support, which is at the direct beck and call of the Commanding Officer.

As this edition of SECOND TO NONE went to press, the majority of the Mortar Platoon were deployed to South Africa with No.1 Coy Group for seven weeks of field training.

Congratulations to Sgt Beau Taylor of No.1 Coy who recently achieved a DISTINCTION grade
on the Platoon Sergeants Battle Course at the Infantry Battle School Brecon.
 

THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN



Operation MONCK’S RETURN : 15-22 NOV 06


For one week in November 2006, the people of Yorkshire didn’t know what had hit them. You couldn’t go past a street corner in Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham, Goole, Beverley or Selby without being accosted by a smart young man in combats that boasted a blue, red, blue patch. The boys were back in town!

Operation MONCK’S RETURN was an intensive recruiting drive based on South and East Yorkshire, but with specific events also taking place in North Yorkshire. At its busiest, there were 63 Coldstreamers deployed on the ground including the entire Corps of Drums and the Battalion Boxing Team. The Recruiting Platoon, commanded by Capt JPF Russell, conducted 4 open days/nights where support weapons and equipment were put on display for members of the local Army Cadets, as well as Guards Division recruits at both Harrogate and Catterick.

The Battalion also co-hosted a charity boxing night in Hull with the St Paul’s Boxing Club, which was a great success, the details of which are covered in the sports section of this edition. The Corps of Drums gave blood at the Sheffield Blood Donor Centre in addition to visiting and performing at two schools, and conducting a musical display and workshop with a local youth band at York Racecourse. Whilst in the area, a small party under Drill Sergeant Johnson conducted a memorial service at the grave of LCpl GH Wyatt, VC, at Cadeby Cemetery near Doncaster, which was attended by over 100 local people and several veterans organisations.

All in all, the week was a raging success with 874 potential recruits contacted by the Recruiting Platoon, including 112 females. As this edition goes to press, over 100 of those have already attended the Coldstream Guards Look at Life course and in excess of 40 are now being processed as potential Guardsmen with another dozen being processed for other cap-badges across the Army.


“Please be gentle nurse…”


Command Tasks at Manor School


“And you are the Drum Major of?”


The Recce Platoon stand at the ACF Open Day


“Ooh, such lovely boys…”


Mortar Platoon recruiting was going well…
 

COLDSTREAM SPORT


The Coldstream Guards Golf Society…commonly known as the ‘specially employed’!

THE GENTLEMEN OF THE GREEN…

For those who think the infantry is full of dull-witted gutter-snipes who are only fit to kick footballs around or punch each other in the boxing ring, then stop right there. You will be surprised to discover that the Coldstream Guards is brimming with fine, upstanding young fellows who play the sport of gentlemen; a sport which requires supreme levels of concentration, skill and judgement. So it was, that on a frosty November morning, the Coldstream Guards Golfing Society donned its Plus Fours and Pringle Sweaters to tread the green at the Oak Park Golf Club near Farnham.

The driving force behind the day was Major (QM) Dave Hall, an avid golfer. He brought together a fine band of men from the 1st Bn, No.7 Coy and Regimental Headquarters in order to run a one-day individual competition. LCpl Harris stopped pumping iron in the gym for a few hours in order to join the happy throng and Major Crofton even managed to prize LSgt McGowan out of the stores in RHQ to join in (but only on the promise that he wouldn’t have to run, wear uniform, or do drill!)
A fine days golfing was had by all.
According to LSgt Dean Emmerson “…What Drill Sergeant Sheard lacked in skill, he more than made up for in enthusiasm, although it will probably take the groundsman a while to repair the turf on the fourth hole! I also think that the Quartermaster is really starting to improve his swing. If he keeps working at it, he should make quite a good golfer eventually.” (Editor’s note – LSgt Emmerson is now in hiding and under police protection!!!)

The Quartermaster’s swing must have been truly formidable as he ended up as the overall winner of the day and the trophy now sits proudly in his office. All of those who took part had an excellent days golf and another event is planned for the Spring when it is hoped that the weather will be a tad kinder.


The tallest golfer, the most senior golfer and the most powerful golfer…but which one’s which? Major Bartle-Jones (Bn 2i/c), SSgt Sawyer (APTCI) and Major Hall (QM) line up to tee off.
 

TO HULL AND BACK - CHARITY BOXING NIGHT

On Thursday 16th November 2006, as the opening event of Op MONCK’S RETURN, the Regiment co-hosted a charity boxing and dinner night with the St Paul’s Amateur Boxing Club at the Kingston Communications Stadium in Hull, East Yorkshire. Over 280 dinner guests along with around 40 casual spectators settled down to watch a selection of civilian and Coldstream boxers pit their skills against each other in the ring. Six members of the 1st Battalion’s Boxing Team were matched to fight on the evening. Sadly, Gdsm Alwood’s fight was cancelled as his civilian opponent failed his final medical, however Gdsm Blakeway, Dusanjh, Wasilewski and Broadley all made it in to the ring to represent the Regiment and all of them gave a fantastic display of the qualities for which the Coldstream Guards are world famous; discipline, courage, fighting spirit, respect for others and dignity, both in victory and defeat.


To Hull and back : The Coldstream Boxers prior to their bouts at the KC Stadium.
Left to Right: Gdsm Blakeway, Wasilewski, Broadley, Alwood and Dusanjh.


The Corps of Drums gave a musical display after dinner and then settled down to play in all of the boxers. The Commanding Officer and Regimental Sergeant Major were among the military guests, which also included Major Davis, the Army Careers Officer for Hull and East Yorkshire. There were many sponsors for the event, several of them in partnership with BAE Systems and as a result of the night, a total of £4, 447 was raised for charity. The money will be split between the St Paul’s Boxing Club (a well known youth organisation in Hull), The Sheffield Hospital Trust Childrens Ward (The Regimental Recruiting Team’s preferred charity) and a charity of choice to be nominated by BAE Systems.
All of the Boxers are to be congratulated on a terrific performance and on their dedication to training, despite a hectic period of public duties, which included the State Opening of Parliament. SSgt Sawyer (APTCI) and LCpl Thompson (London ART) are commended for their thorough preparation and training of the team. The Regiment would also like to thank Mr Tony Pontone, Mr Mike Bromby and Mr Rick Collins, all of the St Paul’s Boxing Club, who worked extremely hard to lay on the event and make it a roaring success.


Military and Civilian boxers pose with their trainers. SSgt Sawyer and LCpl Thompson (rear left) were the Coldstream Squads trainers.
 

INTER-COMPANY CROSS COUNTRY COMPETITION

On a wet and windy morning in mid-January, over 200 members of the Battalion turned out for the annual Inter-Company Cross Country Race. With the competition taking place in Windsor Great Park over an undulating course, with stretches of mud and waterlogged grass, the race conditions were described as “Perfect cross country weather…” by SSgt Tom Sawyer, the Bn’s APTCI!

The race began at 1100 hrs with the pack struggling through mud from the word go. Once on the slightly firmer bridleway, the field began to open up and everybody dug into the long steady climb up to the rear of the Copper Horse. After another half mile the ground dropped dramatically away and the runners enjoyed a fast pace on a hardened track for some 400 metres. The perk was not to last however, as the final straight was across a mile of saturated grass, which made the footing treacherous.

Despite the conditions, the pace around the gruelling five and a half mile course was fast with the winner coming over the line in just 31 minutes! The Commanding Officer finished in a highly commendable 10th place with CSM Danny Gibson of No.1 Coy being the highest placed Warrant Officer as 11th man over the line. Below is a full list of the results:

INDIVIDUAL
1st - Gdsm Perkins (No.1 Coy)
2nd - Gdsm Maher (No.1 Coy)
3rd - LCpl Ensor (HQ Coy)

COMPANY
1st No.1 Coy
2nd Support Coy
3rd No.2 Coy
4th No.3 Coy
5th HQ Coy


“Thank God for the downhill bit…”
 

Second to None
The Regimental Newsletter
for the
1st Battalion Coldstream Guards
Produced by the Coldstream Guards Regimental Recruiting Team