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Second to None
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Second to None
(The Coldstream Guards Newsletter)
Edition 1
December 05
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The Warriors Return . . . . and
let off SOME STEAM!
After seven long months of operational service in Iraq, the 1st
Battalion Coldstream Guards is back home in Lille Barracks,
Aldershot. The Battalion spent a period of two weeks settling
back down into routine barrack life, before taking a 10 day
leave period. This two week period of ‘decompression’ was
designed to gradually bring the troops back down to a sedentary
pace of life after an intense year of pre-deployment training,
followed by an extremely challenging tour of duty in Basrah and
Al Amarah.
 The
decompression was organised by Maj Toby Gray, the Second in
Command, and consisted of an inter-company competition. Pistol
shooting, clay pigeon shooting, rugby, play-station and archery
were just a few of the many activities, all of which were
conducted in the spirit of friendly rivalry and gave the
companies a chance to let off some steam, and at the same time,
swap war stories and banter.
In the middle of the fortnight, the Battalion were granted a
long weekend in order for them to make initial contact
with their families and friends again after many months away.
This was followed by their 10 day stretch of leave a week later,
which used up the first half of November. A further fortnight
back in Aldershot consisted of post-tour administration;
receiving the Battalions freight and vehicles back from the
port, handing in specialist equipment, etc.
Finally, the Battalion began winding down for it’s main bout of
post tour / Christmas leave, which consists of six full weeks
paid leave between 1st Dec 05 and 16th Jan 06. Many of the
traditional end of year activities have been conducted prior to
leave, although sadly, due to the earlier than usual start date
to the Christmas break, some events have been missed out this
year, such as Hanging the Brick, the Christmas Cake competition
and the Junior Ranks Christmas Lunch. Still, with six weeks
leave to fill, it is unlikely that anybody in the Battalion will
be complaining!
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News in Brief:
CAMBRIAN PATROL 2006
The annual patrol competition takes place in October 2006 and
the Battalion intends to enter four teams, based on the three
rifle companies and support company. This is a prestigious event
and the competition is tough but rewarding. JNCOs and Gdsm with
high standards of motivation, fitness and military skills are
required to fill the teams. Preparation will start early, so
register your interest with your platoon and company staff NOW.
The competition is a real test for professional soldiers. Do
your bit to keep the regiments honour and reputation where it
has always been – right at the top.
STABILITY IS THE KEY MESSAGE ABOUT WINDSOR
On his recent visit to the Battalion in Iraq, the Regimental
Lieutenant Colonel confirmed that the Battalions next posting to
Windsor (beginning Apr 06) will last for 4 years 6 months. The
reason for this lengthy posting is that all of the Battalions in
the Foot Guards need to rotate through to their dedicated
postings in line with the Future Infantry Structure. The good
news for Coldstreamers is that the Battalion will have
unprecedented stability for almost five years. For the married
men, this will be good news as far as married quarters and jobs
for wives are concerned, not to mention stability for their
children’s education. For the single men, the news is equally
good. Victoria Barracks is a small, comfortable camp, ideally
situated for Windsor’s highly rated night life. Access to the M4
is only 5 minutes away making travelling home at weekends a
relatively simple business. Windsor Great Park, Windsor Castle
and Legoland are on the doorstep. For those wishing to continue
their education there are local colleges only ten minutes away
in Slough, and Reading University is only 25 minutes drive away
down the M4.
Despite the annual heavy commitment to Public Duties during the
early summer, Windsor will allow opportunities for a wide
variety of activities to take place that are few and far between
in an operational brigade. There is a six week exercise in Kenya
scheduled for Aug/Sep 06 along with a number of sporting tours,
adventure training expeditions, Keeping the Army in the Public
Eye (KAPE) tours and battlefield tours. After an exhausting two
and a half years in Aldershot, Windsor will provide a refreshing
mix of work, rest and play.
TROOPING THE COLOUR 2007
The Battalion Will Be Trooping Its Queens Colour On The Queens
Birthday Parade In 2007.
ANTI TANK PLATOON
The Anti-Tank Platoon Ncos Are Converting To The ‘Javelin’
Missile System This Month. The Rest Of The Platoon Convert In
July 06
BATTALION SKI CAMPS
The Battalion Is Running 3 X 1 Week Ski Camps In Early 2006. Ask
Your Platoon Sergeant/Platoon Commander For The Details
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Education And Personal Development
 STANDARD
LEARNING CREDITS
Don’t forget!!! Standard Learning Credits allow service people
to obtain a grant through their unit to support their own
personal development. The individual is expected to contribute
20% of the cost of the course themselves, with the service
paying 80% of the course fees up to a maximum of £175.
Details of the scheme can be obtained from the Regimental
Administration Officer.
THE OPEN
UNIVERSITY
The Open University is so called because it is open to
everybody. Study with the OU is done in your spare time by the
medium of distance learning courses, some of which are internet
based. The OU runs courses for higher education qualifications
such as diplomas and degrees in a wide variety of subjects.
For more information, log onto the OU web site at www.general-enquiries@open.ac.uk
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Around And About
For more info on the Gdsm
Gratton Appeal see here
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Number 7 Company
THE COMPANY
WORKS AND PLAYS HARD DURING A SIX WEEK EXERCISE IN BELIZE
No.7 Company have recently enjoyed a welcome break from the
hustle and bustle of London by conducting a six week exercise in
Belize. To be precise; four weeks exercise and two weeks
adventure training and local leave.
The exercise began in mid-October with a week at ‘Jungle School’
where they were trained in tactics and survival techniques
particular to the jungle environment. The humid environment
meant that the daily rainstorms were far from unpleasant as the
experience is akin to taking a warm shower whilst fully clothed.
The 90 strong company of Coldstreamers also had the chance to
study the local wildlife at close quarters; in some cases, too
close for comfort! A week of live firing exercises were
conducted following the initial training phase. Live firing is
the most realistic form of training conducted by the army and is
always an adrenalin boosting activity. On this occasion, the
dense rain-forest added a dimension to the training that made it
even more challenging than normal. The ‘Jungle Camp Attack’
range was a particular favourite.
By this stage, No.7 Company’s beard growing competition was
gathering full steam. There were all sorts of beards on display
from the ‘soft civvy goatie’, through the smart clipped
‘Elizabethan’ to the ‘Grizzled Crimean Veteran’.
This natural fallout from operating in the jungle certainly
identified the men from the boys!
A demanding two week final exercise then took place deep in
virgin jungle, which was arduous but exciting, with support from
raiding boats of the Royal Engineers and helicopters from the
RAF. By the time the company emerged from ‘the trees’, they
resembled a large bunch of filthy, wet, smelly tramps. They were
paler and much thinner than a month before, but were able to
hold their heads up as experienced jungle soldiers. The reward
for the company’s hard work was a range of trips and activities
that allowed the boys to do some much needed sun-bathing and
soak up some of the local culture (and rum!) Among the locations
visited were the Florida Quays and San Pedro Island. Activities
included scuba-diving, sea fishing and water skiing. The company
returned to London in November, much refreshed and ready for the
worst weather that the British winter can throw at them!
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A MESSAGE FROM THE REGIMENTAL
RECRUITING WARRANT OFFICER
This short
introduction is aimed at all Coldstream Recruits, whether you’ve
merely expressed an interest in joining the regiment or whether
you have actually started training at Catterick, Harrogate or
Bassingbourne. My name is Drill Sergeant (WO2) Andy Johnson and
I am responsible for looking after you during your induction,
training and posting to the regiment. To help me in this, I have
under my wing all of the Coldstream Recruiting Sergeants from
the local recruiting offices and the mobile Regimental
Recruiting
 Team
led by Company Sergeant Major (WO2) Dave Naylor. You should be
familiar with your Recruiting Sergeant and CSM Naylor already.
You will receive regular visits, briefings and newsletters such
as these throughout your induction and basic training. You are
not on your own – we are all here to help you get through it.
First of all, well done for volunteering to join the longest
serving regiment in the British Army. We’ve been here for 355
years and were the first regiment in the very first ‘standing’
army. We are constantly in need of fit, bright, well motivated
young men who thrive on challenge and who want to prove that
they can go that little bit further than everyone else. The
first thing to realise is that you are now a member of the most
exclusive ‘club’ in the world. As you might expect, we look
after our own. ‘One team – one fight’ is our ethos and you are
now a part of the Coldstream family. We are quite literally a
family regiment. There are three brothers from Sunderland, all
serving in the same company in the 1st Battalion. We also have a
father and son, both currently serving in the 1st Battalion.
Throughout the regiment, there are at least three other pairs of
brothers serving together.
Many of our soldiers once had fathers, uncles or grandfathers in
the regiment.
The Coldstream Guards are all about high standards. We are a
Royal ‘Guards’ regiment. This doesn’t mean that we spend our
whole life guarding the monarch, although we do take our turn in
the ceremonial duties. We are the back-bone of the British
infantry. During offensive operations, we have traditionally
been used as the army’s shock troops, leading the assault from
the front. On the defensive, we have always formed the
rear-guard, being the last ones off the field of battle. In the
modern world, we have also become peace enforcers and our
discipline, adherence to international law, respect for all
cultures and nationalities, and flexibility in chaotic
situations have earned us a reputation equal to our official
motto “SECOND TO NONE”.
We work hard and play hard. Rugby, Sailing and Skiing are three
of our major off-duty activities, but the list is almost endless
as you will see from the various articles that will appear on a
regular basis in these newsletters. Like all infantry regiments,
we have a diverse and challenging lifestyle, with the added
privilege of being the Sovereign’s personal bodyguard troops.
What makes us different though is our ethos. We are Guardsmen,
first into battle and last out; we are order amongst chaos; we
set the standards for others to follow, and above all, we look
after each other. Once a Guardsman – always a Guardsman. So work
hard, and keep smiling because a Guardsman never admits defeat,
even when times are hard. Show the other recruits what it means
to be a Guardsman. We all want you to succeed and we look
forward to seeing you on your arrival in Battalion.
Remember
ONE TEAM – ONE FIGHT |
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ONE TEAM – ONE FIGHT
The Regimental Recruiting Team issue Week 8 ‘goodie-bags’ to the
Coldstream trainees of the Junior Intake at the Army Foundation
College Harrogate.
Left to right are:
CSM Dave Naylor, Jnr Soldiers Nathan Widdison from Sheffield,
Callum Devine from Market Harborough, Jason Banfield from
Hastings and Lance Sergeant Hambely, a Coldstream Guards
Physical Training Instructor at the AFC.
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Second to None
The Regimental Newsletter
for the
1st Battalion Coldstream Guards
Produced by the Coldstream Guards Regimental Recruiting Team
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