Visit to the 3rd Princess of Wales Royal Regiment’s Livery Company Day at Leros Barracks and Training Area, Canterbury

The Master, the Mistress, son Richard, the Senior Warden and his son Guy arrived at the barracks where we met teams from the Builders Merchants, Cutlers and Paviors Companies and the Order of St George. We then had a presentation on the history and current activities of the Regiment by Lt Col John Baynham followed by a briefing on the day.

After being suitably equipped we were driven to their nearby training area where the afternoon’s activities commenced.

First off was a field demonstration of the platoon taking an ‘enemy’ machine gun post while we watched from a safe distance. We then attempted to erect a field shelter in the trees and cook our lunch, having been supplied with boxes of field rations. Much hilarity ensued during attempts to light stoves and heat water to warm up the surprisingly good variety of casseroles and stews.

We then embarked on a series of exercises in our Livery teams. This commenced with a shooting competition, firing SA80 assault rifles and Glock pistols on their range – certain members of our team were remarkably accurate and returned good scores and some it seems should have gone to Specsavers! We had great fun even if, as it turned out, we didn’t win any prizes.

Next up was a demonstration of camouflage by the soldiers, after which we had to follow a trail through the woods trying to spot items that had been concealed, which was surprisingly difficult.

This was followed by a CBQ (close battle quarters) exercise when we each took it in turn to patrol through a wood and shoot at soldiers when they popped up out of the undergrowth. We fired blanks, so no harm was done!

Finally we had a First Aid demonstration, learning how to apply field dressings and to give CPR. This was followed by a large bang and smoke emanating from a few yards down the track, which upon investigation proved to be a Land Rover partially on its side, spilling forth bleeding soldiers (made up with artificial blood), which we had to bandage and stretcher to a waiting (imaginary) helicopter.

In between we learned about modern communications systems and looked through night-vision scopes and saw other military hardware in action.

After all the adrenalin and excitement, we were ferried back to the barracks and treated to a delicious curry dinner after which we had drinks with the reservists and full time officers. We listened in awe to their accounts of their roles in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan and the role they are now expected to play in the front line, supporting our full-time servicemen.

All in all it was a superb day out and we were so impressed at the commitment, teamwork, friendliness and professionalism that they, as reservists, all demonstrated. We learned a great deal and came away feeling very proud to support them. At next April’s dinner we shall be presenting the Needlemakers’ Sword to the best young subaltern and this coming February we will be presenting a silver statuette donated by Past Master Alan Foster to their best Sergeant.

Our thanks to Lt Col John Baynham and his battalion for organising and delivering such a splendid, informative, impressive and entertaining day.