Chapter 4: 1989 to 1991

Chapter 4

42 Infantry Brigade

42 (North West) Brigade

1989 - 1991

42 Infantry Brigade

Leaving ‘A’ Squadron in their new home had to have its consolation and it did – an office in The Castle, Chester! Brigadier Ian McLeod presented me with a positive career move. Working as SO2 (TA) in a brigade headquarters with over 8,000 troops of mixed arm and service widened my horizons in the military world. I was tasked with coordinating Young Officer Training across the Brigade with which I felt quite comfortable and thoroughly enjoyed.

I was also able to visit training and exercises and report back, always being well received as a “staff officer from Brigade.” The social life at Chester was also pretty good and dinner nights in the mess could be expanded into a pleasant weekend break in Chester, quite agreeable for shopping. The mess, of course provided an excellent base for the weekend.

Territorial Army Command & Staff Course (TACSC), Camberley

Another bonus from my move to Chester was my nomination for the TACSC course. This is held annually, takes 60 students and is always oversubscribed. With Brigadier Ian’s nomination I was offered 13^th reserve place. Two weeks before the start of the course I received notification that I had a place in January 1990. There was far too much pre-reading to possibly tackle so I cherry picked the most interesting and took my chance.

On arrival at Camberley, my entry was through the same main gate as the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, a vision from eleven years earlier and still with its adrenalin rush. In the hall was a photo-album of previous courses featuring my predecessors and my shared room was way up on the upper floors. All the students were Majors or Lieutenant Colonels (RAMC) set into the usual syndicates each with a Lieutenant Colonel DS. One student was selected from each syndicate to be the leader; that was me – it must be stamped on my forehead. The first week kept us on our toes but with time to network. I was delighted to find that my DS Charlie Buxton had been best man to John Woolley. Colonel Charlie was a Cavalry officer and a gentleman and we got on fine. Major General The Honourable WE Rous OBE took each of the students in turn to have a one-to-one conversation and when my turn came General Willie spoke highly of the excellent evening he spent as a guest at the Red Rose Club and asked after several of his acquaintances. My “interview” passed in a very social way, and my performance marked me fitted to command or take an SO1 appointment. This was a far better report than the one I collected from my 10 day JDSC course which I had found only vaguely relevant to a UK based rôle. With my TACSC after my name and an “Excellent” grading from Brigadier Ian I was really feeling the benefit of a two years tour at ERE (Extra Regimental Employment).

Figure 28: Staff College Camberley

Other ERE Activities

Exercise Executive Stretch

I still maintained strong links with The Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry both on a training level and in a social arena. Colonel Martin Steiger was tasked by North West District with organising an Exercise Executive Stretch in which civilian executives could be put through their paces over a weekend within a military scenario. The exercise was designed to take sixty executives and as the weekend approached there was a shortfall in the take-up from the civilians. Diane spread the word amongst her Civil Service colleagues and half a dozen or so stepped up to the mark filling the cadre. With a wide range of activities and experiences arranged, everyone had an action packed weekend ending with an excellent Sunday lunch in Fulwood Officers Mess and congratulations from the General Officer Commanding. As a visiting staff officer I was able to take Diane around the various locations to watch her colleagues under pressure abseiling and enjoying firing live rounds on a frosty gallery range.

Photograph 1: Lt Tim Ripley’s winning team. Photograph 2: GOC chats with Roger, one of the civil servants. Photograph 3: Diane Tustin chats with Ian Collings amid heavy frost.

Figure 29: Ex Executive Stretch

New Guidon

The most important regimental event whilst I was at ERE was HM The Queen’s visit and presentation of a new guidon at Stonyhurst College. For this I offered my services to join the regiment for two weeks, initially standing in for ‘D’ Squadron Leader, Major Tony Berry and then in the second week as a host for the GOC and his wife for the visit itself. All this was fine apart from a bout of colic whilst on exercise up in the Catterick area. Unfortunately this hospitalised me for three days in Catterick Military Hospital, an experience in itself. Being released on the middle Saturday and collected by SSgt Dickens I was safely returned to Altcar Training Camp. Looking forward to having 24 hours back home I jumped into my car to find the battery totally flat. The AA sorted me out and after the extra delay I was able to take a short break back home.

Rehearsals went well resulting in an excellent parade and a lovely lunch with The Queen in Stonyhurst College.

Figure 30: HM Visit to Stonyhust; 1990 Guidon

Moving The 1909 Guidon from Manchester Cathedral To Our Regimental Museum

On the 10^th April 1991 The Regiment and Old Comrades assembled initially at Manchester Cathedral to collect the 1909 Guidon which had been lowered and boxed ready for transfer to our Regimental Museum in Preston. After a short service and ceremony the Guidon was escorted to Preston where the celebrations continued with the unveiling of a refurbished 5.5 inch Gun Howitzer standing proudly in front of the museum. As I was a visiting staff officer I was free to take photographs of the events. Note Major Dick Heaton MC who used the guns at Monte Casino, is seen below in camel coat with bowler & medals.

Figure 31: 10th April 1991 - A Regimental Day

My good friend Ernest Ryder

As my one and only brother never married my chances of being best man were considerably reduced. However, through The Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry, Ernest Ryder and I had become good friends. In 1990 Ernest and Janette were married by our Regimental Chaplin, Trevor Vaughan, with the reception being held at Leighton Hall. I was best man/officer in waiting to Ernest and a fine day it was.

Figure 32: Captain & Mrs EN Ryder on their wedding day. Groom + Officer in waiting.

MTQ 2 Examinations

One task which proved to be a real door-opener was MTQ 2 (Military Training Qualification – Level 2) Examinations with Universities Officer Training Corps of Liverpool and Manchester & Salford. The President of Examination Board was generally the Deputy Brigade Commander, at that time, Colonel Colin Herbert. The examination was hosted by one of the UOTCs and candidates could come from across the UK’s 19 UOTCs. This demanded a fair number of examiners as well as administrative staff, and the examiners were majors drawn from within the Brigade. Assembly and registration occurred on the Friday evening with an early start to the examination on the Saturday morning. With the tests wrapped up by close of play on Saturday evening the DS would process all the results and agree the passes and prizes for the top three places while the students partied. Sunday morning was devoted to a parade and prize ceremony where the top three students collected cash prizes (cheques actually) and once the camp was handed over the cadre was dismissed.

The world of the OTCs was a new experience to me and as an educationalist I felt quite at home with the regime. Little did I know just how important this was to become to me in 1992.

Exercise Trident Rose

Exercise Trident Rose was the last exercise organised by 42 Infantry Brigade and as such the staff pulled together a fighting brigade on the ground. For the ‘final push’ on the ground, Brigadier Ian had a tactical headquarters with Yeomanry providing his communications, and three battalions, all with regular COs (Ray Aldis commanding 4QLR, Martin Amlôt commanding 5/8 KINGS and Jimmy McSheehy commanding 3CHESHIRE.) By chance we also secured simulated FGA (Fighter Ground Attack) from exercising RAF who put in a few runs on the objective prior to the final assault. The Brigade Commander, for the final phase, advanced on foot with one battalion up, moving in to complete his mission. The whole event provided quite a sight and proved a fitting swan song for Brigadier Ian.

My rôle in the early part of the exercise had been as a watch keeper for the night shift but as the real weather conditions deteriorated to a seriously bad state I was tasked with recovering 3CHESHIRE from Shepherd’s Point between night shifts in the ops room. My efforts and photograph were much appreciated by Colonel Jimmy McSheehy, CO 3CHESHIRE when his entire unit was successfully lifted off the windswept shore by a fleet of trucks. Extraction by sea, which had been the original plan, had become impossible.

Figure 33: Brigade Commander's battle orders - Garelochhead

Figure 34: SO2 business at Shepherd's Point

“Options for Change”

In 1991 the “Options for Change” restructuring of the Armed Forces hit Districts and Brigade Areas causing 42 Infantry Brigade to disappear. North West District, with its General Officer Commanding, based at Preston was to be downgraded to 42(NW) Brigade under command of the new Brigadier ECW Morrison. As a staff officer at Chester, I transferred into the new nucleus of the Brigade Headquarters at Fulwood Barracks whilst HQ Western District was subsumed into the newly formed Wales and Western District with the transfer of HQ to Shrewsbury. Colonel (to be Brigadier) Euan had visited HQ 42 Infantry Brigade while we were on Exercise Trident Rose at Garelochhead.

It was a sad day as the Headquarters was closed in Chester and there was a feeling that the army was relinquishing its position which had been held there since the Roman’s presence in Deva. But as they say “when one door closes ......” and again little did I know how closely Brigadier Euan Morrison & I would be working together.

Back Row: LCpl NJ Dawson Mr D Carruthers Mrs LJ Smith Mrs MG Bebbington Mrs BO Anderton Mr K Wilding Mr RD Owen Sgt JW Head

Front Row: Sgt A Corker Capt MC Bouch Maj(Retd) A Manger Maj PFA Jennings Brig I McLeod OBE MC Col CA Herbert TD Maj J Tustin TD WOI(GSM) RA Connor

Figure 35: 42 Inf Brigade HQ Staff

My time on the staff at HQ 42(NW) Brigade, Fulwood was interesting as the District HQ was gradually shrinking to fit the new ORBAT. I had the pleasure of working with the SO1 G1 MS, Lt Col Geoff Youll OBE, RRF and other staff officers although I did find the COS Col Robin a little high handed in his manner.

The social life engendered within the army life was certainly growing and Diane & I embraced it often entertaining at home, at our own expense, and thoroughly enjoying it. Whilst on the staff at Preston, invitations to Beating Retreat went out and I suggested that we may consider inviting people connected with the military who were living in our brigade area. One such personality was the Chairman of TAVRA, Colonel Mike Taylor RA. Mike and Diane had worked together whilst Diane had been seconded to Manchester Chamber of Commerce. An invitation was duly sent, Mike accepted and after the ceremonies at Fulwood joined our dinner party at home to round off a pleasant social gathering. Dinners at Delph Brook Way have been recorded in the Dinner book since 1987 and provide an interesting, if unusual, aide memoire.

Another friend and colleague of Diane’s was Pamela Rogers, at that time Head of War Pensions and based at Lytham. Pam and her husband Terry, both great supporters and officials for BLESMA, attended several military events as our guests. Both Pam and Terry appreciated Beating Retreat at Fulwood and attending lunch with the troops and families at Stonyhurst during the Queen’s Guidon presentation visit.

Figure 36: Leaving Chester Mess May 1991

Chapter 5 - Regimental Headquarters

The Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry

1991 - 1992

Return to The Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry

My two years as a staff officer drew to a close securing my post-nominal sq(V) (staff qualified volunteer) to follow my TD and TACSC. Back at the regiment change had continued and Colonel Martin had handed over command to Lieutenant Colonel Simon Stewart, a regular officer known to me from my JDSC course where, as a Major, Simon had been on the directing staff. I was to return to The Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry as regimental second-in-command and PMC (President of the mess committee), taking over the appointment from Major John Eastham. This I did as the end of 1991 approached. It was an honour to reach this senior TA position within my own parent regiment and join the top 5% of the Territorial Army. I had served in all three sabre squadrons and now it was time to serve in Regimental Headquarters.

Figure 37: Hand over of 2ICs DLOY, Major John Eastham to Major John Tustin 1991

RHQ had more regular and full time staff than the squadrons and whilst there were friendly faces such as, Major John Patterson, paymaster and mess treasurer and Major Cliff Godby, regimental surgeon and mess secretary as well as other fellow TA officers, warrant officers and senior ranks, the regular training major and adjutant seemed to carry some baggage.

Options for Change

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, as we moved into 1992, rumours became reality and our regular commanding officer had a mission to close down the regiment leaving one squadron, based at Wigan. This squadron was to be part of a new composite regiment, later to be called The Royal Mercian & Lancastrian Yeomanry. Mission completed by Easter, Colonel Simon was away to command the Scottish Yeomanry. So, the three months to April, my brief tenure as second-in-command, mainly involved me in selection boards for the appointments in the one remaining squadron, finding openings for those who wish to continue serving outside the yeomanry and drawing down the officers’ mess – not the most progressive of roles! Interviews were held for those applying for the remaining permanent staff appointments. I remember being asked by the regulars if I knew any of the applicants. I replied, probably a little indignantly, matching the tone of the question, that as I had served seven years in ‘B’, five years in ‘D’ and five years in ‘A’ and now served in RHQ I knew them all. The reduction had to happen and there was going to be upset, and happen – it did. A certificate was issued in thanks for the service of all those members of DLOY at the 31^st March 1992 but the yeomanry were determined to mark the passing with more than a piece of paper. The sabre squadrons all had funds to spend rather than let them be mopped up by the MOD and Diane & I joined Major Ernest Ryder and his ‘B’ squadron at their Clifton drill hall for a dinner to mark the occasion.

The officers’ mess opted to spend their funds on memorabilia; I chose a pewter claret jug, bearing the regimental badge, which has frequently graced our dining table. The WO’s and Senior NCO’s mess held a final regimental dinner preceded by a formal photograph. I had the honour of being invited by the RSM WOI Drummond to join them and this was only the second time I dined with all my friends and colleagues in the seniors’ mess.

Figure 38: Final Dinner for Warrant Officers & Sergeants Mess

‘D’ (DLOY) Squadron, The Royal Mercian & Lancastrian Yeomanry

Eventually the dust of the reduction settled leaving Major Ernest Ryder in command of ‘D’ (DLOY) Squadron, The Royal Mercian & Lancastrian Yeomanry. The home of this squadron was Kearsley House, Wigan and the PSAO was Captain Brian Stocker. Members of the squadron came from across the whole of the original regimental area making a fully recruited and highly qualified squadron. This was clear when inter squadron competitions were held in the new RMLY as ‘D’ (DLOY) Squadron would lead the field. Simon Stewart had disappeared into Scotland and was busy with his new regiment but there was ample strength and regimental tradition to sustain a strong footprint in Lancashire with the Wigan Squadron and the Regimental & County Museum in Preston.

Figure 39: Loyal Service Certificate 1992

Continue to:- Chapter 5: 1992 to 1999

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