1st Battalion
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Catterick 1978 - 1980
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1st Battalion The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Catterick 1978 - 1980 |
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All photographs are the property of RHQ Argylls and may not be reproduced or copied without permission from RHQ Argylls.
The move from Osnabruck to Bourlon Barracks, Catterick in Sept/Oct 1978 meant a change in role from being a Mechanised BAOR Bn to being a UK Infantry Bn. After the return from a combination of disembarkation and normal leave the battalion fitted smoothly into its new barracks, which was purpose built for an Abbot Regt. RA. The credit for this must go to the Quartermaster Geoff Smith, who had laboured since the end of June to get Bourlon Barracks ready for use. As it was the Officers Mess was the only building not completed and it was a matter for concern as Her Majesty was due to visit a month later. However it was clearly a matter for concern for the D of E also, who, in the end, made a good job of it. The first few weeks in Catterick were spent preparing for the visit of HM the Queen.
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Visit of HM The Queen
Visit of HM The Queen
The Battalion were honoured with a visit by Her Majesty on the 9th November 1978 in order to present a new personal pipe banner to the Regiment. Her Majesty arrived promptly at twelve noon and after inspecting the parade of four guards of sixty six, she took the salute during the slow and quick march past and the advance in review order. She then presented her new pipe banner to the Pipe Major before three cheers and the march off.
Her Majesty had expressly asked to visit the Sergeant's Mess and after being photographed with the Pipes and Drums she met members of the Sergeant's Mess and their wives before going to the Officer's Mess for lunch. There, after lunch, Her Majesty was presented with the first edition of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Mulberry Plate by the Colonel of the Regiment. Afterwards Her Majesty spoke to many Jocks and their families in the Dining Room before visiting a
physical training session and departure through rows of cheering soldiers lining the roads to the barrack entrance.
At every stage of her visit Her Majesty clearly knew much more about the subject, than we expected and she showed great interest. In the physical training display for example, she spoke to every soldier and the personal contact she made during the visit has made everyone realise, that the stories told by the older soldiers about the interest Her Majesty takes in the Regiment and in those who serve within it, are in no way exaggerated.
PROGRAMME OF THE VISIT
1140 Battalion marches on Parade
1200 HM The Queen arrives on Parade
1230 HM The Queen leaves the Parade Ground for the Sergeant's Mess
1300 HM The Queen attends the Royal Luncheon the Officer's Mess
1440 Royal 'Walkabout' in the Soldiers Dining Hall
1510 HM The Queen visits Training Session in Block 17
1530 HM The Queen departs Bourlon Barracks played out by the Pipes and Drums
ON PARADE
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Colonel I.C. Purves-Hume;
Second in Command: Major J.A. Ross;
Adjutant: Captain A.K.McC. Miller;
Regimental Sergeant Major: W01 D. Nicol;
Colour Party: Lt. C.J.A. Evans, 2/Lt. R.N.H.A. de V. Wade, W02 T.M. Grant, C/Sgt. J.C.A. McDiarmid, C/Sgt. W.T. Robson;
ADC to the Colonel of the Regiment: Lt. A.L.S. Boswell.
No. 1 Guard: Major D.P. Thompson MC, Captain W.D. Winstanley, Lieutenant A. Grant, CSM R. Marshall, C/Sgt. J.A. Killcullen.
No. 2 Guard: Major G.A. Neilson, Captain K.H. Washbrook, Lieutenant A.A. Buchanan, CSM J.H. Auchterlonie, C/Sgt J. Ross.
No. 3 Guard: Major G.F.W. Rundell, Captain M.D. Roberts, 2/Lt. A M. Gray, CSM J.V.G. Bain, C/Sgt. B. McTaggart.
No. 4 Guard: Major A.W. Blackett, Captain G.A. Douglas, Lieutenant D. H. P. Keate, CSM S.G. Pearce, C/Sgt. J. Bingham.
Bandmaster: W01 S. R. Clarke; Drum Major: C/Sgt. C.E. Stubberfield; Pipe Major: C/Sgt M.R. MacGillivray.
ORDER OF CEREMONY
The Battalion marches on Parade. Pipes and Drums "Atholl Highlanders".
The Regimental Sergeant Major hands the Parade to the Adjutant. The Adjutant hands the Parade to the Second in Command. The Second in Command
orders the Officers to march on. The Second in Command hands the parade to the Commanding Officer.
The Colours are marched on Parade. Pipes and Drums 'All the Blue Bonnets over the Border".
The Colonel of the Regiment arrives and is received by a General Salute. Pipes and Drums "Loch Leven Castle".
The General Officer Commanding North-East District arrives and is received by a Salute from the Commanding Officer.
Her Majesty The Queen arrives and is received by a Royal Salute. Military Band "The Queen".
Her Majesty The Queen accompanied by the Colonel of the Regiment inspects the Battalion. Military Band "Gypsy Baron", "Nabucco", "Melodies of Scotland". Pipes and Drums "The Mist Covered Mountains", "Skye Boat Song", "Saffron Kilt".
The Battalion marches past in Slow and Quick Time. Military Band—Slow March "Duke of York", "Garb of Old Gaul". Pipes and Drums—Quick March "Gypsie Laddie", "The Rowan Tree", "MacPherson's Lament", "Highland Laddie", "The Campbells are Coming", "The Green Hills of Tyrol", "The Battle's Over".
The Battalion advances in Review Order and gives a Royal Salute to Her Majesty The Queen Military Band—Advance "British Grenadiers" Pipes and
Drums—Salute "St Andrew's Cross".
The Pipe Major receives the new Queen's Pipe Banner from Her Majesty The Queen.
The Battalion gives three cheers for Her Majesty The Queen, The Colonel-in-Chief.
Royal Salute. Military Band "The Queen".
The Battalion marches off Parade. Pipes and Drums "Highland Laddie", "The Campbells are Coming". Military Band "The Thin Red Line".
Her majesty The Queen leaves the Parade Ground.
Immediately after the Royal visit, the battalion began a cadre period for the specialist platoons, this lasted till until Christmas Leave. Between the 3rd and 8th December A and D Coys took part in Ex “Great Delight” on Salisbury Plain. The Battalion was due for Xmas and New Year leave from 21st December to 8th January 1979, which was to be the first time it would have had this leave in UK since 1972 and only twice in this time had the whole Bn had Xmas leave with their families. At 1600 hours on 21st, with the Jocks full of Xmas lunch and due to leave at 1630 hours, the CO had to tell them they were to return on the 27th and that two Companies would be going to Northern Ireland to escort oil tankers. The battalion duly returned and after Northern Ireland training and postponements, went back on leave until 3rd January. A further postponement meant sending out messages on radio and TV in Scotland to prevent the Jocks coming back until the original date of the 8th January. A and B Companies went to Northern Ireland overnight on 12/13 January only to find that the tanker drivers had decided that day to work again normally on Monday 15th.
1979
On the 10th January through a snow blizzard Lt. Gen. Sir David Scott-Barrett visited the battalion. After inspecting a quarter guard the General toured the Companies on training and visited the Sgts Mess before going to visit the Black Watch. Later that evening he returned to dine with the Officers who included CO 1 BW, CO 1 Gordons and CO Scots DG.
At the beginning of the year for a period of 10 weeks snow covered everything in the Catterick Area. For the Jocks it was felt that perhaps boxing would ward off the cold and also relieve some of the pressures on the local constabulary; and despite the last minute withdrawal of those participating in London Duties an excellent Novices Competition was held. The major event of the pre-Easter period was the provision in March of Her Majesty The Queen's Guard in London.
Her Majesty the Queen's Guard London - March 1979
When the Battalion was first warned to provide Her Majesty The Queen's Guard in London for March 1979 it was understood to be a commitment involving two companies. The idea would be that one would relieve the other so that London Guards throughout March would be found by Argylls. Subsequently this was found not to be the case. The detachment completed seven forty-eight hour periods of guard duty between the 3rd and the 30th of March, alternating with battalions of all the Guards Regiments other than the Irish Guards.
When it was realised that the commitment was for only one company it was decided to base the detachment on D Company. Reinforcements were required and soldiers of every company were involved, most of them coming from C Company. A total of 188 members of the Battalion (including Cruachan) took part and as the detachment required a large number of officers and NCOs it must have seemed to those who remained in Catterick that all the chiefs were away. The following officers and senior NCOs were on the Guard:
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Maj AW Blackett ) Capt AMB Snowball ) Captains of the Guard Capt AKM Miller )
Capt KH Washbrook ) Buckingham Palace Subaltern of the Guard
Capt AKM Miller ) HM Tower of London Guard Commander Lt. APW Campbell )
2 Lt AM Gray ) 2Lt RNAH De V Wade ) Ensigns at St James's Palace 2Lt AGG Docwra )
RSM Nicol W01 Clark CSM Bain
C/Sgt Bingham ) Buckingham Palace C/Sgt Kilcullen )
C/Sgt Easdale ) St. James's Palace C/Sgt. McWilliams )
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C/Sgt MacAulay ) HM Tower of London C/Sgt Scott )
C/Sgt MacGillivray ) Pipes and Drums C/Sgt Stubberfield )
C/Sgt Boyd ) Sgt Burton ) Military Band Sgt Glen )
Sgt Connell ) Buckingham Palace
Sgt Scullion ) St. James's Palace
Sgt Muir ) H.M. Tower of London
Sgt Campbell ) Administration Sgt Wilson )
Sgt Hoehle ) Pipes and Drums Sgt Stewart )
Sgt Round ) Tailor |
The preparatory period before duties began involved a considerable amount of drill, even more tailoring and frequent kit inspections. As this was carried out at the same time as companies were trying to complete their annual personal weapons tests, and given the bad weather, there were many frustrations. By the middle of February when one foot of snow on the square still precluded drill practice it was decided that the guard would move to London earlier than anticipated. In retrospect this was definitely the best answer. Accordingly, the guard moved to London by train on 21st February. The following nine days were spent in preparation at Cavalry Barracks, Hounslow. Most of the time was allocated to practising the Guard Mounting Procedures at Buckingham Palace and HM Tower of London and the dismounting procedure at St James's Palace and Buckingham Palace. Drill Sergeant Felkin WG, Sgt. Taylor SG and the RSM of 1 SG all helped RSM Nicol ensure that everyone knew what they had to do on parade. This was also an opportunity for the NCOs to visit the various guardrooms although! most had been down to visit them from Catterick over the weekend 3rd-4th February.
On 3rd March the Argylls mounted guard at St James's Palace, Buckingham Palace and HM Tower of London for the first time since 1908. As the 1979 Guard was carried out during the winter period it was after considerable discussion, and in order to comply with Household Division instructions, that the guard wore greatcoats and the bands wore capes. Whilst these were undoubtedly warmer, they were not as smart as No. 1 dress would have been. Those on guard were probably content to wear their greatcoats!
The seven periods of Guard Duty followed each other in rapid succession and although some of the parades were more perfect than others the overall standard was highly praised by many experienced Guardsmen as well as the public. The Jocks have always been actors and are best when playing to an important audience. This occasion was no exception. Sufficient numbers had been taken in order to allow most members to have a period of time off after completing two guards. For the sentries it was especially hard work at St. James's Palace and Buckingham Palace, for when HM The Queen is in residence double sentries must be mounted. On these occasions the Jocks spent two hours on sentry and four hours off for up to 48 hours. Some of the off-duty time had to be spent in cleaning and pressing kit and having a meal. It was not long before everyone realised that the remainder of the time must be spent asleep!
The highlights of the period in London were HM The Queen's Visit to St James's Guardroom and Officer's Mess on 15th March and the weekend of the
Regimental Dinner at which time so many retired and serving members of the Regiment made the effort to come and watch the Guard Mounting. The visit by our Colonel in Chief was especially memorable to all the off-duty Jocks at St. James's Palace as each of them, as well as all the off duty senior NCOs, was presented to Her Majesty. Maj. Blackett did not warn the Jocks that this was going to happen and there were a few surprised faces when they were all individually presented.
For the Bands the period in London was an opportunity to practice together relatively unhindered. The younger pipers gained such confidence by playing in the Officers' Mess at St. James's Palace every night of duty. For Cruachan it was an opportunity to misbehave! He was stabled at Hyde Park Barracks with the Household Cavalry Regiment. They looked after both him and L/Cpl Lang very well, but despite his age it seems Cruachan has not lost his masculine drive! He
eventually had to be removed from the parade and was sent back to the Commanding Officers' garden in Catterick before the duties in London ended.
For the Jocks, off-duty entertainment seemed to be no problem although London was found to be more expensive then most had anticipated. There were many friendships struck up with the WRAC Company that was stationed in Cavalry Barracks. Some even say they have seen the "HOUNSLOW HULK" in Catterick! In fact a few people spent their Easter leave down there too. Two dances were organised by Capt Washbrook and the NAAFI manageress and both were great successes. The manageress was impressed with the Jocks behaviour, for which they deserve particular credit. Visits were not so popular but parties went to the Imperial War Museum, RAF Hendon, HMS Belfast, HM Tower of London and Lt. Campbell and Lt. Docwra took parties on a guided tour of London.
Some pictures from the Royal Guard
The officers and senior NCOs made the most of their time in London. There were two senior NCOs who seemed to like the Playboy Club — they say,
the attraction being having their cars cleaned rather than anything else! It was a pleasure to entertain as many guests as we did in the Officers' Mess at St James's Palace. One particular evening is of special note — that at which three Colonels of the Regiment (General Sir Gordon MacMillan, Major General Graham and Major General Boswell) and two Regimental Secretaries (Lt Col Slessor and Lt Col Wood) were present. Among the other regimental guests at St James's Palace were: Lord McLean, Viscount Slim, Maj Gen Sloane, Maj Gen Swinton, (GOC London District), Gen Sir Robert Ford (Adjutant General), Maj The Hon George Younger, Col Osborne (US Defence Attaché), Col Robertson (Canadian Defence Attaché), Maj Gen John Graham, Col Seccombe (41 Cdo RM), Brig
Grant, and Lt Gen Sir David Scott-Barrett. Capt Snowball presented, on behalf of the Regiment, a silver Argyll cap badge menu holder to the Officers' Mess at St James's Palace. Maj Gen Swinton accepted the gift on behalf of the Household 1 Division and has ordered that it be displayed on the mess table at every meal.
Just before the Easter Break the Battalion ran the Annual North East District TEWT for the TA. This task, initially a small one, ended up by becoming an
extravaganza for 150 TA officers that kept the entire Battalion busy for a fortnight. Despite the headaches in setting up the exercise there was a genuine sense of pride in the final outcome and we were all most impressed by the interest and ability of the officers who attended.
During the Easter Leave the Battalion Football team had their moment of glory when they played the 1st Battalion Scots Guards in the UK Infantry Cup Final in Aldershot. A classic cup match with the score still tied after extra time was finally lost on penalties in a sudden death shoot out. This was possibly the battalion’s best sporting result since reaching the Army Boxing Finals in 1963. The Battalion Shooting Team having qualified for Bisley had to withdraw at the last moment due to the move to Hong Kong.
A smaller event but a most rewarding one was the visit on 30 April to a party of handicapped children from local schools. It is difficult to know who enjoyed the visit most, hosts or children, and the accompanying photographs gives some idea of the audience participation.
After Easter much of the time was spent preparing for the role of Spearhead Battalion and this involved much time and effort spent in relearning the basic skills of being an airportable battalion once again. The battalion went through the full spectrum of training: courses, cadres, packing boxes, loading and lashing, helicopter drills, vaccinations, document preparations (passports is a word engraved on the Adjutant's heart), Company deployments and even that rare event an exercise involving getting Battalion Headquarters in the field. The test exercise set by UKLF, Exercise Fast Ball, found a number of flaws in our systems but the preparations paid off and by the time we were actually called upon to fulfil our role the wheels rolled relatively smoothly.
19th May D Company provided a Guard of Honour for the opening of the new Northeast District HQ at York. 26th May the Regimental Reunion was held at Bourlon Bks. During June Cruachan II retired after many years service with the battalion.
The battalion became the UK Spearhead battalion for a six week period on 5th June and this meant that it had to be prepared for deployment anywhere in the world for either internal security or limited war roles at very short notice. As July fell within the tour most of the Battalion was quite clear that the only place it was likely to go was Northern Ireland. Almost as soon as the battalion started its period on Spearhead it became obvious that there was some sort of panic going on in high places and the Battalion went through a frustrating three weeks when we knew we were going somewhere but no-one was officially allowed to know where. As with so many military activities there were carefully made contingency plans for almost any emergency except the one that had just developed in Hong Kong. The result of all this was that the Battalion ended up being deployed to Hong Kong by RAF transport aircraft in a somewhat non-tactical fashion and in a move taking over three weeks to complete.
When the Battalion reformed in Catterick after 3 weeks leave at the end of September there was no time for idle reflection on the recent past. The trip to the Far East had necessitated the removal of no less than 68 planned items from the original programme for the year. The loss of some of these commitments was greeted with a sigh of relief but there were others, notably the provision of Her Majesty's guard at Ballater, for which a great deal of preparation had already been done and which had promised to be a high point of the year. Another major event with longer term repercussions for the Regiment when it had to be cancelled was our KAPE tour. Some events, such as the Freedom of Argyll and Bute, it was possible to arrange to take place at a later date but many of our commitments to groups such as the ACF must await our next posting to GB. The greatest problem, however, created by the two months spent in the Far East was the way in which our military training programme had been curtailed. Faced with a Northern Ireland tour and with specialist Ireland training starting in mid-November there was a mass of vital internal cadres and courses which had to be run in the intervening six weeks. At the time these Notes are written, December 1979, most of our basic training is behind us and the next edition of the TRL will be able to concentrate on the final preparations for the move to Ireland.
In early October a scratch team from 'B' Company did the battalion proud by coming second in the North East District March and Shoot Competition, Ex “Stainton Chase”. 27th October the battalion was granted the Freedom of the District of Argyll and Bute, a Guard of Honour commanded by Maj. MR McVittie was mounted by the battalion at Kilmory Castle, also on parade were the Military Band and the Pipes and Drums. Throughout October and early November we faced a series of specialist inspections building up to the visit on 19 November 1979 by Brigadier Geoffrey Hutton, Deputy Commander North East District, who was responsible for producing what was called the Annual Report on the Unit. During Oct/Nov a JNCO’s cadre was run by B Coy, the final exercise was held at Otterburn in freezing weather. Other activities during the period include the provision of a company to assist 16 AD Regt RA prepare for Northern Ireland, a series of recess of our own to Ireland, during the last 2 weeks of November the battalion Northern Ireland training started with the NITAT team visiting the battalion at Catterick, a visit by two managers from ICI and the hosting of the Army XI v Middlesbrough FC football match. The latter included giving a buffet lunch for the Middlesbrough directors, a task which the battalion willingly took on in view of the kindness and help which it had over the past two years from the club.
During December WO1(RSM) “Danny” Nicol handed over as RSM to WO1(RSM) “Duffy” Cairns. Danny Nicol will go down in history as one of the best RSMs the 1st Battalion has ever had. The fact that he held the post for longer than any post World War II RSM is indicative in itself of the esteem in which he was held and his worth to the Regiment. Perhaps the greatest tribute one can pay him is to repeat the remark on a JNCO not known for his fraternal love of RSMs who said "the RSM's alright because he's absolutely straight and fair". Mid December the battalion went on Xmas and New Year leave.
If anyone would like to add pictures to this page, please e-mail ayoung287@msn.com
1980
Lydd/Hythe and Stanford
The Battalion carried out pre Northern Ireland training at (SPTA) at Lydd/Hythe from 7th to 18th January 1980. The road move to Lydd/Hythe was long and arduous, but despite packets passing each other in opposite directions in the outskirts of London, everyone arrived intact. Any thoughts of a pleasant ten days on the English Riviera were quickly dispelled. Lydd Camp was slightly less inviting than a Siberian outpost, and the whole area was continually swept by an icy wind. The programme was tight and companies were worked hard, those training on Hythe ranges often staying out till late at night.
The facilities included the normal IBSRs and urban CQBs, and some ranges had novel features which besides being amusing made their point. Each company spent three days in Fort Richmond, the SF base in Rype Village. Rype Village represented a "typical" Irish community and it was populated by numerous unsavoury characters none of whom seemed to be employed. They spent their time hanging around street corners or drinking in the pubs. Occasionally there were outbreaks of violence resulting in bombings, shootings and rioting, and each exercise would end with a dramatic confrontation.
This often took the form of a protest march or sometimes a funeral. On one occasion the terrorist godfather having given instructions for a leading republican to be buried was mystified to see the "publican" being hauled out of his pub and bundled into a coffin. After ten days, the Int section concluded that the Padre and RSM were the chief organisers, but a dawn swoop by security forces was foiled. Both these men went "on the run" in the Ballykelly area.
25th Jan to 5th Feb the battalion did Northern Ireland training at Stanford Training area (Rural Phase), the move was by train from Darlington. Stanford was a total contrast with training concentrating on rural operations. Each company was allocated an area and a base to operate from and there were also the usual supporting agencies which included SOCO, ATO and various specialist dogs. The RAF and Army Air Corps provided intensive air support, and the frequency of landings and take offs at the main location would have made most air traffic controllers cross eyed, the intensity of the exercise predictably increased towards the end with the Battalion Ops Room sometimes dealing with six or seven simultaneous incidents. Murphy's law dictates that visiting generals always choose moments like that to ask "Now tell me what's going on". Training finally ended with a night OP exercise which drew to a close in the wee small hours. It was a weary but satisfied body of men which finally trooped onto the train later that morning.
Updated: 06 May 2015