Gunmakers will remember the superb response to the call for Christmas boxes for members of the Company’s affiliated Regiment, the Light Dragoons, who were deployed to Mali, in support of UN peacekeeping operations. Time has now moved on and the Task Group’s final 28 day patrol in theatre saw sandstorms and breakdowns in the challenging terrain, with temperatures up to 46 degrees C. In conducting the first cordon and search operations the UN had carried out in Mali, a number of caches were found containing weapons, ammunition fuel and equipment. A huge success and a great reputational win for the Regiment and the first deployment of UK forces in the country. With the deployment now over, the Regiment were all safely back in the UK by mid June, bringing to an end an incredibly busy two years.
Success
It won’t be a surprise, but the rear party left at home were also busy, with Covid-19 response tasks, as well as some back to basics training, refining their basic soldiering skills. Individuals have also deployed to the swamps of the Louisiana, to the British Embassy in Cairo and to the rolling hills of Otterburn training area. On top of that, the Regiment’s Triathlon team managed to win the Army Sprint Triathlon Championships at Castle Howard.
As this period of the Regiments diary draws to a close, so does the tenure of Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Tom Robinson. He hands over to Lieutenant Colonel Jon Harris, who will lead the next charge.
