Issue 87 - NWRFCA - Northwest Reserve Forces & Cadets Association

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156 tpt regt Time for adventure for 156 by Maj Tony MCFARLANE Ordinarily August is the time of year when permanent staff block leave occurs and TA adventurous training (AT) is undertaken and for 156 Tpt Regt this year was to be no different. With the Regiment’s 4 Sqns deployed across the country, literally, it was arduous enough just keeping up with them. The two Liverpoolbased Sqns had opted for the serenity of the Lake District, travelling up on the Friday evening; 235 Sqn were accommodated at the Ambleside AT centre, whilst 238 Sqn had opted for the native canvas borne surrounds of a nearby campsite. Saturday saw both Sqns busy with a variety of AT activities, including mountain biking, hill walking and for the equestrians within the unit, horse riding. Amongst the latter group were SSgt Dave Knight and Cpl Barbara Cross who both have horses of their own which they ride regularly back home. They were joined by the recently married LCpl Katy Lawson (nee Hamilton) whose new husband LCpl Chris Lawson was away with the mountain bikers, under the instruction of SSgt Pete Argent and LCpl Eddie Gibney. After bidding farewell to the lakes and the Liverpool Sqns, it was time to visit 234 (Birkenhead) and 236 (Manchester) Sqns who had opted for Wales and Anglesey as their preferred AT locations. 234 Sqn had set up base camp at HMS INDEFATIGABLE whilst 236 Sqn had opted for the opposite side of the Menai Straits and Capel Curig as their home for the weekend, at least for the Saturday. Joining 236 Sqn late on the Saturday afternoon, it was clearly evident that the soldiers had enjoyed themselves across a SSgt Dave Knight, LCpl Katy Lawson and Cpl Barbara Cross variety of activities and with many of them being new soldiers to the Regiment it was encouraging to see that their spirits were high and that they were clearly enthusiastic for whatever Sunday’s activities held in store for them. Even the wet weather could not dampen their spirits and an al fresco, albeit undercover, BBQ was followed by a rapid-fire, spontaneous quiz led by the OC, Maj Steve Cotter and the SSM WO2 Neil Law. Daybreak on Sunday and the weather appeared to LCpl Eddie Gibney be far more favorable than it had on Saturday and following breakfast, it was over to Sgt Mark Webber for the days AT briefing. Sgt Webber, a very experienced diver and diving instructor, had very kindly brought along his dive club’s rigid hull inflatable boat or RHIB (rib) as they are more commonly known; the dive boat ‘Poseidon’, sporting what appeared to be a rather healthy outboard motor, was to be the main attraction for the Manchester-based soldiers for the day. However, it became quickly evident that the day might not go as smoothly as planned when Sgt Webber referred to the ‘Port’ side of the RHIB as the ‘Starboard’ side. Now, for the uninitiated, in maritime terms the left side of a vessel is known as the ‘Port’ side and the right side as the ‘Starboard’; in other words Sgt Webber had clearly confused his left with his right!! Things did not go much smoother with Anyone interested in a career with 156 TPT Regt RLC can contact us on telephone 0151 242 2044 or visit www.armyjobs. mod.uk. the RHIB on the slipway at the Menai Straits; the apparently healthy outboard motor refused to start and after numerous efforts the decision was taken to swap the fuel container in an attempt to start the outboard motor. Although the engine eventually sprang into life it did not sound too healthy and appeared to be drawing in air; nonetheless Sgt Webber was confident that as soon as we “got her underway” the engine’s problems would desist. With the Poseidon’s motor eventually turning, the RHIB, crewed by Sgt Webber and Pte Graham left the slipway to collect the soldiers from 236 Sqn who were waiting patiently at the jetty for their fun-filled trip down the straits. Now as a diver and boat-handler myself I appreciate the importance of communications whilst at sea, as does Sgt Webber, but when the request to carry out a radio check with the coastguard was met with the response that the radio was a bit “hit and miss” I have to admit that my confidence cup was not exactly brimming over. Having collected the waiting soldiers from the jetty we set out for what was intended to be an enjoyable jaunt up and down the Menai Straits, allowing the soldiers the opportunity to take the helm themselves and thereby experience something that the average ‘Joe’ doesn’t get to do; it didn’t happen. About 10 minutes into the trip the engine started to misfire and it was clear from the fuel bowl that the engine was drawing in far too much air; eventually the engine stalled and would not re-start, cue the opportunity to check comms with the lifeboat station! Sgt Webber promptly called the coastguard; “Anglesey coastguard, Anglesey coastguard, this is the dive boat Poseidon”; by this time the RHIB had started to drift and the anchor was deployed. In what could only have been a matter of minutes, the RNLI rescue boat appeared on the horizon; very much a state-of-the-art vessel, she was with us in seconds and with the passengers and myself cross-loaded, Sgt Webber and his stricken RHIB were towed back to the safety of the Menai slipway where the dive boat Poseidon was winched back onto her trailer and headed for the garage and no doubt some much needed remedial work. 18 the volunteer www.nwrfca.org.uk
4 lancs Centre stage for 4 Lancs “For you the war is over!“ Volunteer Kgn John Ditchfield ‘captures SS German Grenadier, alias Al Graham from Liverpool. Each year the Woodvale Rally draws larger crowds with an estimated 30,000 attending. RAF Woodvale is ‘taken over ‘ for two days with an array of 12 foot wing span flying models, a huge array of vintage military vehicles, model train and boat displays and a host of other attractions. At the centre of the show were 4 LANCS with their recruiting display, mainly of foreign weapons. The Sea <strong>Cadets</strong> also supported the show and both they and 4 LANCS took part in the daily parade along with the Liverpool and Manchester Pals Re-enactment Society. The volunteers assisted them with their fund raising towards their target of £50,000 for a memorial at Liverpool Lime Street Station in 2014 - the centenary of the Liverpool Pals leaving for the Somme battlefield. Cpl Dave Givens trying to recruit Miss United Nations Abi Bridgeman For further information on joining 4 LANCS call 01772 260654 or visit www.armyjobs.mod.uk. The unit meet Tuesday evenings between 19.30 and 21.30. Volunteers and Sea <strong>Cadets</strong> in the parade. www.nwrfca.org.uk the VOLUNTEER 19
Page 1: THE OFFICIAL FREE MAGAZINE OF THE R
Page 4 and 5: People & places Altcar 150 Celebrat
Page 6 and 7: People & places Kevin bids FAREWELL
Page 8 and 9: People & places 146 Sqn gain 100th
Page 10 and 11: People & places Double VC memorial
Page 12: People & places Getting a taste of
Page 15 and 16: A British Company 1000s more produc
Page 17: Pure Performance Absolute Precision
Page 21 and 22: 75 engr regt training weekend Navig
Page 23 and 24: C sqn rmly RMLY train in Wales C (C
Page 25 and 26: 4 Mercian Matt completes TA Commiss
Page 27 and 28: mly Medal for LCpl CARL Swannick LC
Page 29 and 30: ccf Some of the Army section prove
Page 31 and 32: cumbria acf New padre for Cumbria A
Page 33 and 34: Greater Manchester ACF GMACF Annual
Page 35 and 36: Greater Manchester ACF Death Valley
Page 37 and 38: lancashire ACF Lancs Cadets go for
Page 39 and 40: isle of man ACF IOM ACF Annual Camp
Page 41 and 42: cheshire acf County RSM proving wha
Page 43 and 44: SCC Rowing success for cadets Huyto
Page 45: atc Then lo and behold the weather
Page 48 and 49: atc » Cdt Sgt Wright said: “It w
Page 50 and 51: Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders Thr
Page 52 and 53: Liverpool University OTC » the sho
Page 54 and 55: CADETS.UK. SPECIAL OFFERS £34.99 T
Page 56 and 57: Manchester and salford university o
Page 58 and 59: Manchester and salford university o
Page 60 and 61: in the spotlight IN THE SPOTLIGHT W
Page 62 and 63: COMPETITIONS Top Tunes! See if you
Page 64 and 65: DIRECTORY TA Cheshire FOX BARRACKS
Page 66 and 67: DIRECTORY Army Cadet Force Merseysi
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‘ SHUN GENUINE US MARINE TAGS The
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Issue 87 - NWRFCA - Northwest Reserve Forces & Cadets Association

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