Exercise Cambrian Patrol

I am speneding most of this week up in Brecon photographing the Cambrian Patrol. and so far getting some good photos.

The annual event covers some of the harshest and mountainous terrain on offer in the mid-Wales countryside. Arduous, physically and mentally demanding, it is a highlight in the British Army’s training calendar and regarded internationally as one of the toughest tests facing the modern-day soldier.

This years’ exercise, which runs from Friday, October 8, to Sunday, October 17, has attracted an entry of 94 eight-man/woman teams. Joining the British Regular and Territorial Army soldiers this year are 16 international Army teams from countries such as Pakistan, India, Australia, Canada, United States and France.

However, this year’s nine-day event will see 45 Regular teams take part – the highest number ever to have done so in the 51-year history of Cambrian. On average, 35 Regular teams sign up for the demanding 48-hour challenge.

Soldiers from 1^st Battalion Welsh Guards and 1^st Battalion The Royal Welsh (The Royal Welch Fusiliers) – both having served in Afghanistan last year during Operation Panther’s Claw and Operation Moshtarak, respectively – will take on the patrol.

On arrival at a given assembly area in Sennybridge (Grid Reference: 852345; OS Landranger Series, Map Sheet 160), teams will be subjected to a thorough check to ensure that they are in possession of the correct kit, equipment and clothing required for the exercise. Team patrol commanders will then be given a set of orders, for onward briefing to members of their patrol. Patrols are then taken to a number of drop-off points in the hills.

Split into seven phases, the teams, some with female soldiers, then have to march a mind-and-muscle sapping 55km carrying full personal kit and equipment, weighing in at some 60lbs, on a two-day patrolling mission.

Navigating both by day and night, the patrols face many testing and specialist challenges, including observation and reconnaissance of enemy forces, cold river crossings in full kit without access to boats, first-aid and defensive shooting under attack. At the completion of their patrol, each team faces a comprehensive debriefing session on their mission.

‘I’m with stupid’

Got this photo more by luck than skill and when it was cleared by the MOD ,I think they knew that it would be a good advert for them and the feedback is 95% positive.
A RAF Tornado navigator decided to pull a prank on plane photographers when they were flying through Snowdonia, Wales by flashing a card reading ‘I’m with stupid’ with an arrow pointing at the pilot.

Low Flying in the Mach Loop North Wales.

Coming from Aberaeron on the west coast of Wales we get quite a lot of military jets doing their thing as we have bombing range in the south and west and the mountains all over. And when I see them I thought that the only way to photograph them would be from another plane (air to air), but I was wrong, just by chants I found some outstanding photography. But a group of aviation photographers and there they were doing it just up the road from me well about 1 hours drive and the rest is history.

Wootton Bassett.

As always I have bean watching the repatriated fallen coming home via Wooton Bassett and like most of use it was becoming routine to see it and was forgetting what it was all about and I just thought that if I don’t do anything now the war in Afghanistan will be over and all of this will be history.
I did four trips down the M4 and I am glad I have done it. Like all of my photography , it is not until you get up and do it and experience what you are photographing that you get the satisfaction of doing something that will be capture for ever.

I spent some time photographing the Cambrian patrols which I have bean trying to do for years and by Moor luck than judgement was Abel to do it this year and have bean asked to come back for 2010. enjoy

Cpl Dean Elson 24 July 2009.

To
day I drive south to Brdgend for a sad day but one that must be remebered.

L/Cpl Dean Elson, 22, originally from Zimbabwe but living in Bridgend, South Wales, of the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards, was killed in an explosion.

Repatriation

The leviathan of the sky does land
In England's green and pleasant land.
Its cargo more precious than gold
The body of a hero, bold.

Once the giant's engines stopped
The cargo ramp is gently dropped
Carried by six on shoulders true
The hero is saluted by the crew.

The coffin draped in Union Jack
Is slowly carried out the back.
Out of the dark and into light
Slowly down the ramp and to the right.

The six approach the hearse all black
And place the hero gently in the back.
The six then turn and march away
Their duty has been done this day.

Politicians usually have much to say
No sign of them near here this day.
They hide away and out of danger,
Much easier if the hero is a stranger.

The hearse with its precious load
Moves slowly out onto the road.
The floral tributes line the route
While comrades snap a smart salute.

At the edge of a Wiltshire town
The cortege slows its pace right down.
The streets are packed, many deep,
Some throw flowers, most just weep.

The crowd have come to say farewell,
The church bell rings a low death knell.
Regimental standards are lowered down
As the hero passed through the town.

The cortege stops and silence reigns
The townsfolk feel the family's pain.
The nations' flag lowered to half mast
Our brave hero is home at last.