Branch Meeting.
37 people sat down with another 23 logged in on Zoom, not a bad turnout at all. The recap of activity was mainly to do with the branch responsibility for the RBL Poppy stand in the Dolphin Shopping Centre in Poole. The branch standard was paraded at two funerals (both ex 3 RTR) and Dave Larcombe has continued to teach Dorset based cadets ceremonial flag drills or “how to be a standard bearer”
Forthcoming activity is focused on Remembrance Sunday in Bournemouth, Poole, Weymouth & Bovington. The RTR march to the Cenotaph was also high on the agenda.
The December branch meeting which is normally just a social event with a bring your own food buffet will this year be a normal branch meeting (still with a buffet) as we are hoping that the Commanding Officer of one of the new Ranger Regiments who had to cancel for November will be available as our guest speaker in December. Whilst on the subject of guest speakers? The secretary was able to confirm that both March & April 2026 will see Falkland war veterans make presentations to the branch. One is a former Sea Harrier pilot and the other a submariner.
It was confirmed that the Cambrai Lunch held at the WOs & Sgts Mess, Allenby Barracks, Bovington has been cancelled due to lack of numbers. The absence of any overnight accommodation really does seem to be a problem for many people.
The meeting then closed, and the guest speaker was introduced, WOII Martin Morrin is the SSM of “Falcon” the RTR CBRN Squadron based at Harman Lines in Warminster and part of 28 Engineer Regiment. For the old and bold and CBRN? think NBC! Martin helped save the day for us by stepping in at the last minute when our planned speaker had to withdraw due to operational reasons. Martin told us that Falcon has an establishment of 84 people and although not always up to full strength is a well manned Squadron. He gave us an insight to the Fuchs, the six wheeled armoured vehicle which has been the main CBRN vehicle for over 20 years. We were informed that it has been upgraded and is far more capable than it was when it first entered service.
Martin went into detail about the role of the Squadron, explaining area survey’s, route recce’s, decontamination process and a host of other tasks. We learned about the training they must do and the chemical recce equipment they must be proficient with. He listed numerous countries that Falcon have trained and operated in, a far greater list than the other Squadrons can boast.
We learned that while most soldiers are initially not too happy about being posted to Falcon, once there they tend to change their mind when they experience the wide variety of skills they learn and that large list of countries that beckon. It was a very interesting presentation and very much appreciated. Oh, and they don’t use Fullers Earth anymore.
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Fear Naught
