4 PWRR SOLDIERS MAKE DAWN ASSAULT BEFORE ENJOYING CHRISTMAS IN THE FIELD
Army Reserve Soldiers from 4th Battalion The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, nicknamed ‘The Tigers’ have been on Salisbury Plain Training Area and Browndown over the weekend 4 – 6th
4 PWRR SOLDIERS MAKE DAWN ASSAULT BEFORE ENJOYING CHRISTMAS IN THE FIELD
4 PWRR SOLDIERS MAKE DAWN ASSAULT BEFORE ENJOYING CHRISTMAS IN THE FIELD
Army Reserve Soldiers from 4th Battalion The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, nicknamed ‘The Tigers’ have been on Salisbury Plain Training Area and Browndown over the weekend 4 – 6th December, conducting their final weekend exercise of the year. They were putting their skills to the test in assaulting and securing buildings and sharpening reconnaissance skills in the rural and urban environment. COVID-secure protocols were followed during the training and a Christmas brunch was laid on by their own chefs in the field after the mission had been completed.
100 soldiers from across the south east took part from the Battalion’s 4 Companies for their final training weekend of the year, Exercise Punniar Tiger. On receiving orders, the night before the soldiers moved into positions, conducting close target reconnaissance for a final dawn attack, which commenced at first light on the Sunday morning. The assault took place against a fortified enemy position, on a farm complex in sub-zero temperatures. It involved them working through a series of compounds, climbing over walls and storming the buildings within, using various weapon systems to achieve their objectives, firing hundreds of blank rounds and using special training smoke grenades.
On completion of the training, the soldiers enjoyed a COVID-secure Christmas brunch, served by the Officers and Senior Ranks in the field where the exercise took place. On the menu was soup followed by roast turkey and all the traditional trimmings in a Christmas roll and was finished off with mince pies and pulling crackers.
Among those tucking into their Christmas treat was, Lance Corporal Daniel Wimberley (30) from Portsmouth. When not operating as an Army Reservist, he is a landscape architect. Speaking of the weekend training he said, “It’s been a fantastic opportunity as commander to be challenged in the urban environment, leading an assault and making split second decisions. Temperatures have been sub-zero, and everyone also has the COVID protocols to adhere to, I think everyone has worked really hard performed well. The Christmas lunch was something to look forward to whist we were out on the freezing reconnaissance mission last night. To be served our lunch has enabled a bit of banter and kept spirits high, it maintains a good level of morale as we head into 2021.”
After a busy and intense weekend everybody took the opportunity to enjoy, unwind and start the festive season. The Battalion of 367 personnel is made up of primarily of Reservists with an element of Regular soldiers who supervise the training and manage the daily requirements needed to run the Battalion.
The Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Jim Bird said: “Exercise Punniar Tiger marked the end of a challenging year. We started the year on Salisbury Plain in freezing temperatures as part of the largest deployment that the Plain has seen in recent years and ended it there also. In between, we mobilised a 139 strong COVID Support Force and have operated in seven countries. Normally at this time of year we would thank the troops for their incredible commitment by the Officers and Warrant Officers serving them a Christmas lunch. This year, because of COVID we have had to do things differently, so after the tactical exercise finished, we gave the troops a socially distanced Christmas meal in the field. At this time of year, we take the opportunity to think about our soldiers currently deployed overseas and their families”.
Commenting on a busy year for the Battalion, he went on to say: “In many respects we have achieved much more than we expected this year. It has not been straightforward, but we still managed Platoon level tactical live firing, grown the Battalion trained strength by 10% and, most importantly, contributed to 5 operations both in the UK and overseas. Next year, we hope to be able to match, if not better these successes.”