1st Battalion
The Argyll and Sutherland
Highlanders
Folkestone 1993 - 1995
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1st Battalion The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Folkestone 1993 - 1995
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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 Minden to Sir John Moore Barracks, Shorncliffe was drawn out between May-September 1993 due to the preparations that had to be made for the handover of Elizabeth Barracks to the German authorities and the recommissioning of Sir John Moore Barracks. It was amazing what comes out of a barracks after an occupation dating from 1945! As the cavernous cellars disgorged unbelievable quantities of rubbish, so the Germans made their final killing at the dump as it was hauled away. Thousands of pieces of furniture, equipment and bedding were disposed of by the QM and his team across Germany. On a historical note, the Argylls have been based in this windy corner of Kent on two previous occasions: once in Dover in 1850 and more recently in Shorncliffe in 1929, as witnessed by the presentation of a Bible to the Kirk by all members of the 1st Battalion. No doubt there have been many other occasions on which battalions have passed through the Cinque Ports on the way to the Continent. The barracks, built on the site where Sir John Moore raised the Light Division in 1803, had significant improvements made to them over the last 9 months to fit the battalion in, although the accommodation and married quarters still left something to be desired. After everyone had taken some well earned leave, the Battalion reformed in Shorncliffe on 27th September and the following week an intensive month-long cadre period was launched into, and was, of course, critical to the maintenance of the battalion’s basic skills. It provided the opportunity for a number of Private soldiers to become qualified for promotion to Lance Corporal. Sadly there were only a few vacancies for promotion from a field of some 70 qualified by this and earlier cadres — a measure of the depth of quality amongst the younger element in the Battalion. By contrast, however, there was concern that members of the Battalion have become true "urban" soldiers after the succession of tours in Belfast.
Click on picture to enlarge
1. a b c d e f g h i
Immediately following the cadre period, the hierarchy disappeared to the Brigade and Battlegroup Trainer at Catterick for a blooding — the first for some three years. To everyone’s great surprise, the hierarchy performed better than expected and certainly learnt a great deal. Thereafter SPEARHEAD loomed and the week spent doing the NI package at Lydd/Hythe provided some good training. On 3rd December Aden Platoon was welcomed back from its attachment to 1 PWO in Bosnia. A small parade was held on the square and, for the last time, the blue berets were removed and the more familiar Glengarries took their place.
SPEARHEAD began on 11th December and so Christmas and New Year were spent astride packing cases in Folkestone. But in usual fashion, the best was made of it and a series of enjoyable events — with just a little bit of partying — made the time pass quickly. With the visit by The Queen and training for the tour to Northern Ireland in the offing, the period provided a valuable opportunity to make the necessary preparations. On Monday 3rd January the Bicentenary Celebrations were kicked off with a very muddy McEwan's Cup cross-country race run in a furious gale. Scottish and Newcastle were kind enough to donate 1200 cans of beer and Mr Nick Brooke, their Area Manager, presented the cup. The Battalion went on leave for three weeks in early January and on return began preparations for the visit by the regiment’s Colonel-in-Chief on 10th February to celebrate the Raising of the Regiment.
10th February 1994 - Raising the Regiment Day
The day following the Bicentenary celebrations the Battalion reorganised for its deployment to Northern Ireland as the Belfast Roulement Battalion (BRB) which took place at the beginning of May. This was the ninth occasion on which the Battalion has deployed on a tour in Northern Ireland since 1972 and it was the seventh to Belfast. It was, of course, fitting that in its Bicentenary year the Battalion should be engaged on an operational tour. The Battalion prepared for its deployment under the guidance of the Northern Ireland Training Advisory Team (NITAT) for 2 months prior to deployment. As the Battalion was based in Shorncliffe this provided a unique opportunity to take advantage of the excellent facilities that were available on its doorstep. From the 5th-22nd April every member of the Battalion spent 4 days being trained on an urban package, and the remainder of the time was spent on the ranges and developing other skills. Knowledge of the Emergency Powers Act and the Rules of Engagement contained in the Yellow Card, first aid and electronic counter-measures along with urban patrol tactics are all key tools for every Jock operating on the streets of Belfast — some had to learn them for the first time, for others it was refresher training. Within 3 hours of deploying to Belfast they would be operational. 6th May the battalion took over as Belfast Roulement Battalion.
The Battalion returned to Shorncliffe from Northern Ireland at the beginning of November. There was a brief period of leave before returning to prepare for the handover of Commanding Officers in January. The Battalion then had a month's leave over Christmas and New Year. Lt Col AJN Graham MBE took over as Commanding Officer from Lt Col A KM Miller OBE on 13 January 1995. The period during January and March was a cadre period to bring the specialist platoons up to strength and to train and retrain the rifle company Jocks and the echelons. Following the individual cadres in January and February the focus of Battalion training became the Tactical Engagement Simulation Exercise (Ex HIGHLAND DANCE) in June. To meet the preparatory training objectives set for the exercise, the rifle companies undertook a series of company level FTXs at Stanford to knock the cobwebs off low level conventional tactics and fieldcraft, and to practise the Battalion's revised and updated SOPs and drills. Each FTX also incorporated an NBC and FIBUA package, making use of the excellent facilities available at Stanford. Platoon exercises and range days in the local area rounded off the training package for the rifle companies. Support Company ran platoon training in the local area, fired on the local ranges, and on SPTA and Otterburn and deployed as a company for a week long exercise at Crowborough.
2. a b c d e f g h i j
It is a fact of life in today's Army that the time available for training is squeezed to a minimum by the requirements of the Regular Army Assistance Table and operational commitments. While the preparatory training objective's for Ex HIGHLAND DANCE were generally achieved, it was at the cost, of some of the enjoyment and quality of life that is needed to provide for the Jocks to ensure a balance of varied testing and enjoyable training, sport, free-time, adventurous training, and time for administration and preparation. The Battalion earned praise from all parts of the Army for its part in a wide range of 'other' activities; for instance twice providing civpop for three weeks for the Northern Ireland Training Wing, providing the Army Guard of Honour and Streetliners for the National Service of Commemoration at St Paul's Cathedral on VE Day, providing a company as players and enemy for the final exercise of the Royal Marines Young Officers' Course, and a multitude of other activities and commitments each requiring from a section to a company's worth of manpower. At home the 1st Battalion hosted an overnight visit by the Captain and some officers from HMS Argyll and ran the Regimental Reunion, the first with the 1st Battalion for eight years.
After six busy months the culminating point, one could say the final straw, came with the announcement that 24 Airmobile Brigade were to prepare to deploy to Bosnia as part of the UN Rapid Reaction Force. At a week's notice, Ex HIGHLAND DANCE was cancelled (to be replaced by a five day package with the Tactical Engagement Simulation equipment) and the Battalion deployed almost en masse to Salisbury Plain and Longmoor to provide the range teams, enemy, demonstration troops and administrative support for a training package that saw over 5,000 people processed (there is no other word) through in a little under three weeks.
The OP GRAPPLE training package was the third such training package supported by the Battalion in the last three years, and always at very short notice. As ever, the response was magnificent from all ranks, despite the disappointment of losing all of the TESEX work-up training. The Quartermaster and his staff deserved particular recognition for juggling the five 'balls' of administering three camps, storing, transporting and accounting for millions of rounds of ball ammunition and a score of mixed natures, administering a tented camp for 500 persons at the Battlegroup Trainer, looking after the needs of the Battalion, and looking ahead to the move to Edinburgh and sorting out accommodation stores, and scaling, for Redford Barracks. It was a magnificent effort and a quote from a letter from Commander 24 Airmobile Brigade said it all. "I have had glowing reports from every rank and every part of the Brigade on your Battalion. Every one of the Jocks gave total support to us, and always in a friendly and helpful way. I could not pay greater tribute than this ...... I would ask that you convey our thanks to everyone in your Battalion. They are held in the highest regard in this Brigade".
3. a b c d e f g h i k
If anyone can put names to faces with rank, company, date and location. Please e-mail with page name, row number and picture letter to
When Ex HIGHLAND DANCE finally materialised, the Battalion showed just how far it had come in terms of rediscovering its conventional skills and being able to operate as an all-arms battlegroup against an armoured enemy. There can be no doubt that simulation equipment provides the best means of replicating face-to-face, freeplay battle, and the Jocks rose to the challenge magnificently. On the laser battlefield, fieldcraft, accurate shooting, good drills and sound tactics are rewarded, while the sloppy, careless or unlucky became casualties. The battalion learnt again the essential lesson that wanting to win is more than half the battle, and the exercise debrief returned again and again to the advantage that the fighting spirit of the Argylls gave us. Having run through a series of three company 'stands' to practise attack, hasty defence and infiltration, the Battalion mounted a deliberate night attack against a well defended bridge and succeeded in taking the bridge within 10 minutes of H hr, before it could be completely prepared for demolition by the enemy. Dawn found the Battalion firm around the bridge, but isolated from friendly forces and facing the prospect of an immediate counter-attack by enemy tanks and armoured infantry. All went well, with some 'alarms and excursions', and the exercise ended with 1 A and SH battle-group (including 10 members of the 7th/8th Argylls) masters of the field, and every man swearing by the laser simulation equipment, and more confident than ever before in his own, and his team's ability to hold its own on the battlefield.
Once Ex HIGHLAND DANCE was over the Q Advance Party departed for Edinburgh and the Royal Guard, having had their first introduction to Scottish country dancing and the Royal Family, went on leave. The Battalion's time in Shorncliffe was extremely busy; it turned its hands to many things, for the most part very successfully, and can look back with great pride and satisfaction at what has been achieved by members of the Battalion in the local area, across the whole of the south of England, in Northern Ireland and overseas. As the Meridian TV newscaster declared during the Focus Southeast's coverage of the Regimental Reunion, "We will not see their like again!" During August the remainder of the battalion moved to Redford Bks, Edinburgh
Updated: 11 October 2014