On Thursday 22nd of July, G (Guards) Company welcomed employers, local mayors and councilors, Officer Cadets, Cadet Force instructors, members of the Royal British Legion and family and friends to Kingston Army Reserve Centre. Major Simon Cupples Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC) spoke about his experiences of leadership under fire in Afghanistan and how the Army can help turn young people into resilient leaders. The London Regiment and G Company would like to thank all of those that attended.
Commanding Officer’s Christmas Message
Well, what a year. I thought you my period in command would be marked by challenges in 3 areas but our performance in these feeds has been superb.
First recruiting: this training year, the ROSO and his team of RSUSOs have received over 700 expressions of interest from potential applicants wanting to join our battalion. We have 170 potential recruits are awaiting the opportunity to attend the Assessment Centre and join the battalion. Despite the restrictions of covid, we have attested 38 new soldiers this training year and attracted 21 transferees. Now while mass has a quality of its own, what we really need to do is to demonstrate our utility to the regular army and make them value the Reserves and the capabilities we bring them, and boy has the battalion demonstrated our worth in 2020, the second of my challenges.
Second, during OP RESCRIPT 70 soldiers deployed as part of the Londons Company, mobilised with 4 days notice. We were the first unit to mobilise, we proved dispersed mobilised could work and mobilised a higher % of its trained strength than any other Army Reserve Unit. During June, we delivered over 10,000 Covid tests, 45% of total testing carried out within the M25. We far exceeded expectations of what the Army Reserve could deliver and have influenced the Integrated Review which will be setting the directing for Reserve activities for the next generation and made the Guards realise that the Reserves are a vital support, bringing them depth, resiliency and niche skills they cannot provide themselves.
Finally, the highlight of my year has been the way the battalion’s efforts have been recognised more widely. We have the runner up for London’s Reservist of the Year, and 6 soldiers of our soldiers have received commanders commendations . Over 50 Londons soldier’s have completed Basic Training this year winning a variety of awards. The battalion supported Initial Training Group delivering recruit training and I hope to embed our presence at Pirbright, the traditional home of the Guards Brigade. We hope to have 25 soldiers complete the Combat Infantryman’s Course by the end of March. 12 soldiers passed a gruelling Household Division & Parachute Regiment Combined Course Potential Junior Non-Commissioned Officer cadre and will join the soon to be formed Corporal’s Mess. We have 10 soldiers attending Section Commander’s Battle Course in January and Corporal Preston will attend Platoon Sergeant’s Battle Course at the same time. We have seen numerous promotions and are starting to grow the vital middle management which the Battalion has been lacking for many years.
We have also made significant advances on the sports field, the Battalion football team reached the quarter final of the Army Reserve cup before covid cancelled the tournament, The Battalion cricket team completed the 2020 season undefeated and we have started cycling, orienteering and running teams. But it is the opportunity to serve alongside our regular colleagues which lights the Reservists fire. To this end we hope to have LONDONS soldiers attempt Regular P Company in March expect to send soldiers on operations to Iraq next year and again in 2022.
So I hope 2021 will build on our superb efforts this year and continue to place the London Regiment at the heart of London District and The Guards Brigade, providing the consistent, persistent and patient engagement across our local communities and all our stakeholders and claiming London for the Guards!
Best wishes,
Lt Col Lowe TD
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