The 3rd Battalion, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment's Livery Companies Day - 29 October 2016

Past Masters Simon Fradd, Geoff Lewis, Assistant Vic Flintham and Liverymen Chris Frankland, Peter Dunbar and Steve Monger-Godfrey formed the intrepid Needlemakers team attending the 3PWRR Livery Companies Day, held at their LEROS Barracks in Canterbury. 

Each year we present the Needlemakers’ sword to the best young subaltern and a silver statuette to their best Sergeant at our Awards Dinner. In return the Battalion invites us and other Livery Companies that support it to come to meet them, learn about their activities and at the same time participate in a friendly competition which they devise each year. 

Also participating were the Paviors, Builders Merchants, Cutlers, Haberdashers, Coopers and Grand Prior Order of St George.

After being briefed and kitted up with our camouflage gear, we embarked on seven 'Stands', each testing our practical and mental skills in various ways. Each stand awarded a maximum of 100 points to each team, with points being deducted for errors and transgressions (there were quite a few!)

This year we learned to assemble and fire an 81mm mortar and a General Purpose Machine Gun. We also had to erect a 5.7 metre field aerial and establish a radio communications link. We then had our intelligence and observation skills tested by trying to identify camouflaged items on their training area on the heath and, from memory, recall key items and words shown to us in film clips.

We fired Javelin missiles at tanks (by computer simulation - as a real missile costs as much as a Porsche and they didn't want us to demolish Canterbury!). We applied face camouflage (with various and hilarious results) and completed a Close Quarter Combat course complete with smoke grenades, firing en route at enemy targets.

After freshening up we returned to the Officers Mess for drinks, the prize giving and a delicious curry supper. The Paviors were top scorer and won the shield and we came a glorious sixth (it's not the winning but the taking part....).

Our thanks to the Commanding Officer, Lt Col Andy Betts, and his staff of regular and reserve soldiers for laying on a superb day. We found it challenging and we learned a great deal in a short time. It gave us an insight into the quality and depth of knowledge and training needed to be a soldier in our modern army. 

The friendliness, enthusiasm and professionalism of the instructors and all of those concerned with making the day such a success was most impressive.