The Regiments tour in Malta ended in December 1965 when they flew
back to the United Kingdom to spend Christmas on leave prior to
re-forming again at Minden in Germany as a Mechanized battalion of
11th Infantry Brigade. The Battalion was soon immersed in a strenuous
series of cadres, each of 3 or 4 weeks, to fit itself for the mechanized
role. Its own APC instructors ran APC commander, driver and
driver/operator cadres, but the stalwart cadre went off to 21 Sqn R.C.T.
at Nienburg and the Assault Pioneer platoon to 29 Field Sqn, Royal
Engineers at Hameln. In addition many Soldiers attended German Language
and First aid courses.
|
APC Cadre at
minderheide |
|
The
driver W.O.11 WILLIAMS looking for the leader who put the APC into
the water splash |
Pte
SCOTT, Lt KENWAY, Sgts GUPPY and SEAWARD 'Bogged down' |
After the Cadres the Battalion embarked on a series
of Exercises at all levels testing not only the soldiers but the supporting
arms and above all the masses of equipment required by a mechanized
Battalion. The climax of the years training was Exercise 'Eternal Triangle
3 which included 7th Armoured Brigade, 11th Infantry Brigade and the 33rd
Panzer Brigade. All phrases of war were practiced, but the old Malta hands
who thought that Mechanized warfare meant being driven everywhere were in
for a shock !! Feet were exercised and numerous holes (Called trenches)
were dug all over Germany, then filled in again. This set the tone for the
following three years where the same routine of Platoon, Company and
Battalion training followed the same format. The battalion soon earned for itself a
reputation for efficiency not only within the Brigade but throughout
Rhine Army. Apart from training on the vast areas of Sennelager,
Soltau and Vogelsang, often with a squadron of the Royal Scots Greys
or the 16th/5th Lancers, the battalion flew out to Libya in February
1967 for five weeks training (Exercise Rough Tweed). In 1968 they moved down to the South
of France for company and battalion training. (Exercise Kepi Blanc)
In Minden the Company's
soon established a Social network via the 'Company Clubs' where a fair
amount of beer was shifted. These clubs were necessary due to the restrictions
placed on Soldiers in going into Minden caused by the actions of a Scottish Regiment sometime
before.
|
A
MINDEN SOLDIER REMEMBERS :- |
| "We
drank in the Company club, sinking as much beer as we could and then
in groups made for the perimeter wire of the barracks, avoiding the Provost
staff led by Vic HOLE, the Provo Sgt in his black tracksuit. We then
made our way into the town avoiding the Redcaps, and then settled in
various bars in and near 'Rampenloch strass' until we could drink
no more, then attempted to get into the Barracks (By a different
route of course) to get an hours kip before Muster parade. We always
knew who didn't make the return journey
by the numbers being 'Beasted' over at the guardroom the following
morning, happy days" |
The Battalion made
its official farewell to Minden with 'Beating the Credits', an old British
Army custom whereby the regimental band of fifes and drums marched about a
garrison town to warn merchants and innkeepers that a regiment was about
to move
|
Band
and Drums of the 1st Battalion 'Beating the Credits' Market Place,
Minden |
In April 1969 the
Advance Party left Minden to take over Alma Barracks, Catterick from the
1st Bn Kings Regiment who were doing a direct swap with the Battalion in
Minden. After
the Kings advance party were released from Custody in the guard room at
Minden they
took over the barracks. |
