1st Battalion
The Argyll and Sutherland
Highlanders
Minden 1989 - 1993
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1st Battalion The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Minden 1989 - 1993
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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 Colchester to Minden during February 1989 went reasonably smoothly and by the end of February the battalion were complete in Elizabeth Barracks. The barracks were a pre-war German Wehrmacht barracks in a suburb of Minden, the remainder of the garrison was a convenient distance away on the other side of the River Weser. March was a cadres period for Mortar, Anti-tank and Recce Platoons, while the rest of the battalion got to know its ageing 432 fleet, most of whom were nearly 30 years old and in preparation for the battalion exercise. From 6th to 16th April the battalion was at Soltau training area to practise and exercise for its role as an mechanised battalion in 11 Armoured Brigade. During May Signals and JNCO cadres were run.
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1. a b c d e f g h i
For more information on the British Army in Minden go to - http://baor-locations.com/minden.aspx
‘A’ Company were selected to go to BATUS (Canada) with the Blues and Royals battlegroup and a major re-organisation within the company took place. This was highly unusual for a unit in their first year in BAOR, and was viewed critically in some quarters. The report from BATUS was excellent and accordingly the battalion’s professional standing and reputation received a significant boost. Needless to say the rest of the battalion was been able to draw upon the expertise gained through! Further battalion training took place at Soltau between 23 to 30 June, culminating in the Brigade Concentration during 1 to 7 July where the battalion gave a good account of itself. Part of the Brigade Concentration was in Ex Battle Axe Run – 11 Armoured Brigade's test exercise along with two companies of 2 Queens. Ex BATTLE AXE RUN took the form of a number of competitions. Firstly Ex FLEETFOOT HALBERD, a 10 mile speed march in which B Company, whilst having a slower time than D Coy beat them as its march discipline was better. Then Ex GRUNTING HALBERD, an infantry skills competition in which B Coy again beat D Company; Ex SHARPEYED HALBERD, an AFV recognition test, in which B Company came second; Ex SPLASHING HALBERD, an obstacle crossing competition, demanding not only physical energy but a deal of intelligence and commanding in which B Coy again came first and Ex DEADEYE HALBERD a tactical exercise using simulators in which B Coy did very well indeed and were surprised to find that they had lost considering it achieved the aim. Suffice to say that B Coy was the best Argyll Company.
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2. a b c d e f g h i
Ex POTENT GAUNTLET and Ex KEY FLIGHT
All command elements of the battalion took to the field again in the autumn, umpiring for the 20 Brigade FTX, POTENT GUANTLET (11 to 20 Sept), closely followed by KEY FLIGHT (25 to 30 Sept), the 24 Airmobile Brigade validation exercise. As umpires all the battalion members were required to use their experience, commonsense and tact in dealing with their exercising units. On the whole this was carried out extremely well and a good rapport was soon established. From the battalion’s point of view the best aspect of this exercise period was the opportunity to cover vast tracks of Germany with the vehicles, and by the end of four weeks, everyone had a much better idea of the terrain. Ex Active Edge - The battalion had the ever present threat of a callout to its ACTIVE EDGE positions by either the CO, Brigade Commander, GOC or any other commander who happened to be in the area at the time. The CO called Ex STIRLING CASTLE, whereby the battalion was re-called into Camp and prepared to deploy into the field. This was reasonably closely followed by the Divisional Commander calling out the battalion on ACTIVE EDGE. There were many significant events in 1989, at the end of what became a momentous decade in Europe, let me dwell upon a few highlights: the Regimental Band's tour of North America, the Pipes and Drums KAPE Tour in Scotland, Schools and ACF visits, a variety of Anglo German Relations events, the Corps Recce Concentration, and even the Junior Officers Promotion Examination where Regimental Officers achieved some of the highest marks. Two events in particular rounded off the year, an outstandingly successful Medical ARU and the visit by the Colonel of the Regiment, General Sir Patrick Palmer KBE in December.
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3. a b c d e f g h i
The Battalion Christmas Show reared its ugly head again this year. It was decided that it would be good fun to hold a show with skits from the companies and departments and a pantomime. Additionally there would be a professional act (which would be very difficult to follow). The company skits were all a great success and many congratulations in particular to the B Coy effort (under the able direction of Pte Woolly Clark) and the Corporals Mess (who are still doing extras). The Sp Coy demonstration of military discipline was rather too close to the bone, however this was nothing to the Sgts' Mess act where the RSM was apoplectic with rage as they took the mickey out of the Chelsea Pensioners — or was it the other way around. The main part of the show was the Pantomime Jockerella, based, but it was sometimes difficult to tell, on Cinderella. Lt John Scott was the dashing Prince, a part that was not very well caste, and Julie Hunter the heroine. The Prince's ADC was Duncan Hall. The three of them did particularly well with Lt Scott obviously enjoying the limelight. Buttons (Capt John Shirras) managed to elicit a certain amount of sympathy from the audience and a number of oranges. It was good to see a tone deaf officer attempting to sing and the audience admired Capt Shirras' courage in this field. The Baron and Baroness (CSgt Sellars and Maj Campbell) and their 2 ugly daughters (CSgts Muir and McDade) stole the show by their incredible beauty and a remarkable ability to forget their lines (particularly Major Campbell). The Fairy Godmother (Carol Ross), the Major Domo (W02 Patterson — who did a very convincing act as a drunk) all performed well. Finally Mrs Hunter and Mrs Patterson were very attractive elfs. The whole show would not have got off the ground without the expert advice of Major Douglas and the RSM who acted as joint producers. Additionally, the Hunter family — Lt Ian Hunter, Maureen and Julie put in a great deal of time and their contributions were well worth it. Thank you.
The battalion did not always enjoy the sporting success it deserved but things improve during the first year in Minden. In March it did extremely well in the Garrison Winter Sports Competition where it swept the board in the Assault Course Competition. The cross country runners were placed third in the BAOR Infantry Competition. The Football Team were runners-up in the 4th Armoured Division Major Units Cup, won the Divisional League Competition and were third in the BAOR Six-a-Side Competition: all excellent results. In the world of Boxing the battalion made a hefty impact with eight finalists in the BAOR Individual Boxing Finals held in Berlin, of them L/Cpl Steele became the BAOR Lightweight Champion and Sgt Piggot the BAOR Welterweight Champion. L/Cpl Mitchell, who was runner-up to Sgt Piggot in the BAOR final, went on to become the Army Welterweight Champion. The Battalion team was also first equal in the 11th Armoured Brigade Forced March Competition and the Subalterns surprised themselves by winning the Scottish Division Tickle Shooting Competition. The Battalion's novice cross-country ski team were placed eighth in the BAOR Infantry Competition.
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4. a b c d e f g h i
1990 started off relatively quietly with a most useful period of Field firing at Grafenwhor in February, followed by a highly successful and instructive training period and Battlegroup FTX at Soltau in April. As a result, the Battalion was well prepared for the Brigade FTX, held at Soltau and the Bergen-Hohne training areas, immediately afterwards. The Battalion was tested under the NATO Operational Readiness Test Programme on 21st May and received a very good result and report. Various Cadres were held, a reasonable amount of individual training achieved, and adventurous training pursued locally. Battlegroup Headquarters and Company Commanders managed to practise procedures during a CPX in Barracks and during a four day exercise to be held at the Brigade and Battlegroup Trainer at Sennelager.
Although the battalion was in BAOR it was still involved in a certain amount of ceremonial duties. Both the Pipes and Drums and the Regimental Band continued to impress all for whom they performed and produced excellent performances at the Minden Massed Bands Concert in July. The Guards of Honour at Omaha Beach and at St Valery, for the anniversaries of these Battles, and at the Minden Massed Bands Concert were all impressive. The battalion received a major publicity plug of the year with the Battalion's entry in the Combat 90 television competition. It represented Scotland with three teams from other Infantry Battalions each representing England, Ireland and Wales. The Combat 90 team had been training since March under Major Graham and W02 McIntosh and were well prepared for the competition which took place at Otterburn from 14th August to mid September.
The departure of Lieutenant Colonel M. McVittie.
It is always a sad occasion to say "Fare Ye Weel" to an outgoing Commanding Officer and the departure of Colonel Malcolm McVittie was no different. His departure, however, must rate as one of the most spectacular seen in an age. The occasion started with all Warrant Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers hiding behind the Officers Mess with a Landrover fitted with two long ropes and a small replica of a boxing ring in the rear, lying in wait for an unsuspecting victim who was being toasted in the Officers Mess. The 'nod' was given by the Officers Mess and the hidden party moved around to the front of the Officers Mess to receive their victim from the Officers. All this was managed without the victim's knowledge or so the hierarchy thinks — Close Observation Platoon eat your hearts out! Colonel McVittie was then loaded into the rear of the Landrover and into the "Ring" which was a token of the Battalion's thanks for his support to the Boxing Team. Colonel McVittie will be pleased to know that thanks to his support we ended up with two 'firsts' and a 'second' in the BAOR Final in Berlin and an Army Welter Weight Champion in the Army Finals in Aldershot. Once in the 'Ring' the parade set off with the Pipes and Drums and Regimental Band to the fore followed closely by the Warrant Officers and Sergeants Mess members towing the Landrover with the Colonel bringing up the rear, all done in the best possible taste to the theme tune of Rocky. The route was spectacular, the Jocks lining the road cheering their heads off and the Battalion's Armoured Personnel Carriers, which had their flashing amber warning lights going, were all laid out in a tunnel-like formation on the Battalion Square which made the whole route look like a giant pinball machine. Once the procession had passed the Jocks they congregated around the back of the Landrover and followed it to the Main Gate where the youngest Jock in the Battalion was waiting to toast the Colonel and his family and present the Battalion's best wishes for their new posting. This was rounded off with three cheers.We were sure that there was the hint of a teardrap in his e'en when he climbed into his staff care to depart, but for someone who was rated an excellent boxer in his youth we reckon he probably got a thumb in his eye. The weather complemented the day very well and contributed to the very successful farewell to a well liked man.
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5. a b c d e f g h i j
The battalion went on block leave during July and then began to prepare for its involvement in Exercise QUARTER FINAL, which was expected to be the last full Divisional FTX held in Germany. The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait changed the situation in BAOR. The deployment of the 1st Armoured Division, consisting of the 4th and 7th Armoured Brigades, and a large number of supporting and logistic units, on OPERATION GRANBY affected nearly every aspect of BAOR life: vacant barracks had to be secured and guarded: wives had to travel further for hospital admissions as BMHs closed down and deployed as Field Hospitals to the Gulf; much of the battalion’s wheeled vehicle fleet was painted desert yellow and was sent to the Gulf with the first deployment; all the battalion’s tentage and various items of equipment were reallocated to units deploying on the operation.
On 14 September the Battalion was tasked to replace 1st Battalion The Staffordshire Regiment as the relief for 1st Battalion The Gordon Highlanders in Belfast, and told to prepare to deploy in early/mid-December for 5 months. After a few days of planning and reorganisation the battalion began training a week later. The training was successful and, all the companies did well during the demanding exercises in Tin City at Sennelager.
Northern Ireland Tour – West Belfast – 18 December 1990 to 8 May 1991
The Battalion’s Northern Ireland Tour, ended on 8th May 1991, when it handed over to the 3rd Battalion The Light Infantry, and returned to Minden for 6 weeks well earned leave till 18th June. Those vehicles and items of equipment which the battalion gave to other units for use in the Gulf were gradually returned. Most barracks in BAOR seemed to be littered with vehicles still in their desert camouflage, and there was some reluctance, among units which took part in the operation, to repaint them. The refurbishment of 1st (British) Corps took till the end of the year and the Battalion remained short of some key items of equipment, particularly wheeled transport, for much of that period. Battalion Headquarters deployed to the Soltau Training Area as part of the 11 Armoured Brigade Concentration ten days after the Battalion returned from leave. All the companies trained and did field firing at Sennelager during July. During August and September training was directed at the individual level, the focus of efforts being the preparation of B and D Companies for their training at BATUS with the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards. Balaklava Day was marked by a Drumhead Service early in October before B and D Companies deployed to Canada. Early October B and D moved to Canada, during the exercise the temperature dropped to –51 degrees and many of the jocks suffered frostbite, this led to it being cancelled and the companies returned to Minden between 11-15 November. During this period it was announced that the Battalion was neither to be amalgamated with another battalion nor disbanded under the Options For Change. Battalion Headquarters and the Echelon staff exercised at the Battle Group Trainer at Sennelager in mid December.
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6. a b c d e f g h i
The only other special event which took place during the year since the battalion’s return from Belfast was the successful tour by both the Pipes and Drums and the Regimental Band to Oslo and Copenhagen in early June. They played at a variety of events including parties organised by the Colonel of the Regiment as part of his final year as Commander in Chief Allied Forces Northern Europe and, although for much of their tour the weather was particularly bad, the Bands received much praise for a series of excellent performances.
In January 1992, the Defence Auditors inspected aspects of the battalion’s administration and left impressed by our organisation. January and February was a cadre’s period, fortunately for the future of the support weapons platoons, most of the training cadres were in their final week when they had to be cancelled in order to prepare for our task in Belfast. The rest of the programme for the Battalion in 1992 was to be the training at BATUS, in Canada, to be the focus for the year and other activities were to include: the Regimental Week, when the Colonel of the Regiment and Lady Palmer would visit and the Colonel of the Regiment would inspect the Battalion on a parade during which we would Troop the Colour; a Highland Games; a Beating of Retreat; and a variety of social activities. Those, and many other events, had to be cancelled as a result of the Battalion receiving orders on 14 February to prepare to deploy to Belfast and take over from the Spearhead Battalion, 1 RHF, on 22 March.
The Battalion was reorganised over the weekend and began training on 16 February with one day of presentations about operations in Northern Ireland given by SOTAT (BAOR). The reconnaissance party left for a short visit to 1 RHF in Belfast later that day and the Battalion moved to Sennelager to prepare to begin the Northern Ireland training package the following morning. After completing a reduced training package, some continuation training, run at company level, and leave for an extended weekend, the Battalion began to deploy to Belfast on 18th March. We were complete there on 22nd March.
Northern Ireland Tour – Belfast 18th March to 30th June 1992
Neither the Pipes and Drums nor the Regimental Band were required to serve with the Battalion in Belfast. Accordingly, both were much involved in activities in Germany. The Pipes and Drums completed a GPMG (SF) training period in March and then prepared for the inspection by the Director of Army Bagpipe Music. They received a most complimentary report following the inspection. The Pipes and Drums performed outstandingly well at the Royal Marines' Mountbatten Festival of Music in the Royal Albert Hall in February and are due to perform at this year's Edinburgh Tattoo. The Regimental Band participated in the Glasgow KAPE in June and is due to receive its Quinquennial Inspection in October.
July saw the return of the Battalion to Minden, and with it came the handover of the Commanding Officer on 8th July. The Battalion reorganised after the tour and then departed on a well-earned period of summer leave. The period from September onwards was exceedingly busy. At the end of September the Battalion deployed to Denmark as an airmobile battalion on Ex BOLD GROUSE - blessed by good weather, excellent helicopter support from the RAF and considerable hospitality from the Danes, the exercise was a remarkable success. Subsequently many of the carefully laid plans were disrupted when the Battalion was tasked to support the training package that was hastily put together for the 1 Cheshire Battle Group in preparation for their deployment to Yugoslavia on Op GRAPPLE.
The reorganisation of the Army in Germany and the continued high level of operational commitments for the Infantry left the Argylls to carry the brunt of commitments within 4 Div. With the deployment of the Cheshire Battle Group also went 11 Brigade Headquarters and the Battalion became Divisional Troops in the 4th Division. The battalion was fortunate in being one of the best manned Infantry battalions but, whilst the remainder of the Army reorganises, it was inevitably a ready source of manpower. The drawdown in Germany goes on around the Battalion, but fortunately it has minimal effect on 1 A and SH. The battalion was privileged to provide the British Guard of Honour on the farewell parade to the 1st British Corps and the formation parade of the ACE Rapid Reaction Corps. The Pipes and Drums and Regimental Band performed at the last ever Massed Band Display in Minden. By Christmas, the last of the armoured vehicles had been backloaded to the UK. The Battalion took part in a variety of other tasks including running the 1 and 4 Div Mortar Concentration at Munsterlager and provided support to the Long Range Recce Patrol School in Bavaria.
1993
Following the New Year holiday, the Battalion returned to work to enter an eight week cadre period. Over this time a wide variety of refresher training was completed to include support weapons, first aid, signals and even computer skills. Some 55 Jocks successfully completed the JNCOs cadre which, under the new qualification for promotion scheme, is the first rung on the ladder to promotion: ten of those were subsequently promoted on the square in a snowstorm! A Subalterns' Cadre was also run, principally concentrating on regimental matters but ending with a 48 hour military skills assessment exercise. In the run up to Easter the Battalion was to have carried out live firing at Sennelager. This was curtailed due to the Op GRAPPLE (Bosnian deployment) training. For the third time Argyll range teams were sent to assist, but on this occasion there were also 36 members of the Battalion on the receiving end, attached to 1 PWO as specialist reinforcements drawn mainly from Support Company. They deployed to Bosnia in late April/early May as the Aden Platoon and returned to the battalion in November 1993 after a six month tour.
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7. a b c d e f g h i
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 ayoung287@msn.com
A welcome break at Easter was heralded by an excellent folk concert laid on by the PRI which was attended by some 400 of the Battalion. Immediately on return from leave from 2nd-14th May the Battalion deployed on Exercise KILTED WARRIOR to Vogelsang, the first week being spent on platoon and company training and the second on a Battalion FTX set in a "Bosnian" scenario. Thanks to some excellent support from the RAF with CHINOOKS and PUMA, and aided by some good weather, we had an excellent period of training. It was not until late April that the battalion finally received the news of our impending move to Sir John Moore Barracks, Folkestone where it was to be complete by September 1993. Thereafter B Company supported the 4th Division CPX at Sennelager whilst the remainder of the Battalion began the drawdown of Elizabeth Barracks – it is amazing what appears after 40 years of British occupation!
It is perhaps worth a mention that there were two enhancements to regimental dress during this period. The Argyll dicing "flash" was reintroduced and is worn on the top of the left arm in combat dress - a very distinctive touch with everyone in DPM and helmets these days. In addition, each soldier was issued with a leather purse, lovat hose, white belt and with a brass Argyll buckle. Trews, as a result, disappeared before six in the evening and the kilt is now widely worn. Both moves were greatly welcomed by the Jocks.
The last few months in Minden the Battalion trimmed down to its new establishment as a Light Infantry battalion, reducing from 658 to 582 capbadged Argylls, a loss of some 80 posts. Recruiting remained buoyant and the battalion began to receive its latest trained soldiers - or "Combat Infantrymen" as they were known - through the separate Phase 1 and Phase 2 training at Army Training Regiment, Glencorse and then the Infantry Training Battalion, Ouston respectively. In 1995 Ouston will close and all infantry soldiers will receive their Phase 2 training at Catterick. Redundancy however remained with the battalion, the Regiment lost 11 officers and 17 soldiers under Phase 2 redundancy in March.
The decision was finally taken on the future of the Regimental Band. The Scottish Division was to have a Highland and Lowland Band, each of 35 men, which will form during 1994. The Band played at the Edinburgh Tattoo along with all the other Bands and Pipes and Drums of the Division, and thereafter was split up to reinforce the BW, QOHLDRS, and GORDONS Bands in Hong Kong, Edinburgh and Berlin. Their final appearance with the Battalion was the Farewell Parade to Minden on 25th June and a march through Minden on 26th June. As a recognition of their contribution to the Battalion over the years, they were dined out of the Officers' Mess on 28th June before leaving the Battalion for the last time.
During July the battalion prepared Elizabeth Bks for handover to the German authorities. July the advance party moved to Folkstone. August the battalion went on Block leave. 10th September was the battalion’s last day in Elizabeth Bks.
Updated: 18 April 2008