Op LONDON BRIDGE

On the afternoon of Thursday 8 September 2022, it was with great sadness, the country learned that Her Majesty The Queen died whilst staying at Balmoral. The news was announced across the media and the Chief of the Defence Staff activated Op LONDON BRIDGE. Op LONDON BRIDGE was a no-notice, tri-Service and pre-planned operation.

Successful execution over the period 8-20 Sep 22 was the culmination of long-term planning, detailed refinement, and consistent assurance activity and ensured Defence’s ability to deliver an appropriate, and world class ceremonial occasion befitting Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, HM The King, The Royal Family, the Nation, and the Commonwealth that included the multiple processions, lying-in-state, State funeral and committal of HM The Queen and the support to the

HQ 101 Operational Sustainment Brigade (OSB) was activated as Joint Military Command Logistics (JMC Log) and the 1-star Army Commander for Op LONDON BRIDGE. Previously HQ 101 OSB was activated as JMC Log for Op FORTH BRIDGE, the funeral of His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh in April 2021 and Op PLATINUM (Queen’s Platinum Jubilee), the Defence involvement in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant in June 2022. HQ 101 OSB acting as JMC Log was tasked to provide a Command and Control node to coordinate the establishment and management of single Service Concentration areas and deliver a joint transport plan for ceremonial troops into London.

Whilst the plans for such an event were well established and partly executed during Op FORTH BRIDGE, nothing can genuinely prepare a new team against the intricacies of contingency plan and several large-scale MACA tasks including Op BALLAM, to provide 1,500 Service Personnel (SP) to London at high readiness in order to support the Greater London Authority stewarding efforts in the ceremonial zone, whilst Op BECOMPASS delivered c1,900 SP from a Forward Mounting Base

The RLC’s Enabling Support to Op LONDON BRIDGE

Proclamation of HM The King.

The death of Her Majesty touched The Royal Logistic Corps in a multitude of ways. Personnel and sub-units from fifteen RLC Units worked to coordinate and deliver the gargantuan logistical effort required to enable Op LONDON BRIDGE. There were also some very personal moments experienced by RLC Soldiers working in close proximity to The Royal Family at this saddest of times; and during the Queen’s funeral. The RLC, while not visible among all the ceremony, was at its heart.

101 Operational Sustainment Brigade

established in Aldershot and Feltham to London, via contracted railway, in order to support the Metropolitan Police Service and Greater London Authority.

The scale and complexity of Op LONDON BRIDGE and The RLC’s contribution was significant. JMC Log alone, comprising of HQ 101 OSB, two squadrons from 27 Regiment RLC, one squadron from 10 Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment, members of 151 Regiment RLC and 7 Regiment RLC enabled ceremonial troops supporting the wider Defence contribution. More unique was the State Funeral itself; where in a single day, JMC Log facilitated the enablement of 6,433 Service Personnel across Defence, operating from 24 locations across the UK, facilitating transport of over 60,777 square kilometres, travelling 7,078 miles using six different types of transport (including rail) and consisting of over 100 coaches. All conducted in a single day by 789 enablers from across five RLC Units. A herculean achievement underpinned by a whole team effort, only as good as the sum of all its parts, in ensuring that accommodation, feeding and transport of ceremonial troops enabled the various Defence activities in London for the biggest and most watched event in the world.

The Brigade was incredibly proud in its supporting role to Op LONDON BRIDGE for Defence and the professional manner in which it was delivered in what was a significant Defence Activity during a sombre and historical moment in traditions epitomised for us by Her Majesty the Queen’s service to the country. Whilst the Brigade and the logistic regiments supporting JMC Log, who represent a wider diverse workforce from across the UK and Commonwealth and have prepared and planned for the details of this event, nothing could prepare us fully for the raw emotion of losing our Commander in Chief and Sovereign. It was a great privilege and honour to support Op LONDON BRIDGE and we were all humbled to do our part in contributing to such a historical event and pay our respects to Her Late Majesty the Queen and that of our King, for which we look forward to his coronation, long reign and service. God bless Her Late Majesty and God save The King.

First formed in 1885, 20 Squadron RLC is a London-based independent Sub-Unit with an extensive history of support to the Royal Household dating back to the 1950’s. With over 70 years of dedicated support to the Royal Household, 20 Sqn has consistently maintained and operated Her Majesty’s Royal Baggage Train, provided limousine and staff car support and has supported Her Majesty’s Annual Summer Court in Balmoral. Her Majesty had a strong connection with Regents Park Barracks, 20 Sqn’s home, having visited during her initial training in the Women’s Auxiliary Corps during WW2. This relationship saw Her Majesty return many times throughout her reign, even to plant a tree outside the Officers Mess. 20 Sqn has supplied the Royal Household with two drivers every year to assist the Royal Family in Balmoral. This has seen many of 20 Sqn’s drivers develop personal relationships with members of the Royal Household and have rare access to the lives of the Royal Family.

In 2022, Cpl Limbu and Pte Tozer were fortunate enough to be selected for this prestigious appointment. Both had personal encounters with members of the Royal Family with Pte Tozer playing a pivotal part in Op OVERSTUDY, the transportation of Her Late Majesty from Balmoral to Buckingham Palace.

During Op LONDON BRIDGE, 20 Sqn SHQ established an Ops Room in Regents Park Barracks out of which it planned and executed the London transport plan in liaison with all Ceremonial Battalions. 20 Sqn was augmented with Liaison Officers from the MET Police and Thames Valley Police who were able to unlock doors through London’s Total Exclusion Zone, ensuring route access throughout. This ability to navigate London’s complex system of checkpoints led to 20 Sqn being a key source of expertise for LONDIST to lean on when delivering on high profile serials.

The Sqn was additionally utilised by the Royal Household for transport expertise and WO2 Scott Nesbitt was despatched to assist

20 Transport Squadron RLC

The Royal Mews in the execution of their transport matrix. He operated out of the MET Police Silver Command HQ alongside the Chief Super Intendent and The Duke of Norfolk. WO2 Nesbitt’s experience and SME knowledge ensured that The Royal Mews’ commitment was successful which further develops our relationship and inter-operability with the Royal Household and its associated enablers. 20 Sqn’s relationship with the Summer Court originates from the longstanding support to the Royal Mews. The Mews is a department of the Royal Household that controls all transportation for the Royal Family; whether that be an armoured Bentley or horse drawn carriage.

Pte Tozer began his commitment at Balmoral on 5 Sep 22. In his first week supporting Summer Court he was on duty during the installation of a new Prime Minister and the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Following Her Majesty’s death she was transported to, via Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh Airport to be flown to RAF Northolt. Pte Tozer had the honour of driving the Royal Bentley immediately behind Her Majesty’s hearse for the journey. Once Her Majesty was back in England, Pte Tozer was retained for the duration of the operation by The Royal Mews. His contribution to the delivery of their transport plan was invaluable and a career highlight for this talented soldier.

On the notification of Her Majesty’s death, 20 Sqn’s work began with the primary focus being the recovery of ceremonial troops currently overseas. LCpl Gurung and Pte Limbu without hesitation volunteered to drive to The Netherlands to recover the Band of the Irish Guards. LCpl Gurung who had just returned from The Falkland Islands, forewent his post tour leave and stepped back into the Sqn without request. Following their successful recovery of the band, the two drivers were highlighted as trustworthy and skilled enough to take on some of our most prestigious tasks for the rest of the operation. This included packet commanding for the early morning rehearsal and route proving for Op MARQUEE – the Lying in State of Her Majesty the Queen. Their exemplary contributions culminated in them driving the Massed Pipes and Drums from Westminster Abbey during the Funeral to Windsor under police escort. The opportunity to drive blue light vehicles or under escort is one fairly unique to 20 Sqn and these two drivers exemplify the driving skill required.

8 Pte Tozer was at Balmoral when The

Queen passed away and drove the Royal Bentley behind her hearse on her final journey to Edinburgh

8 Squadron Headquarters, From Left to

Right: 2iC Capt Bass, OC Maj Frost, Ops Offr Capt Barker, Ops SNCO SSgt Tully

The Royal Family says thank you

HRH The Princess Royal thanks The RLC

27 Regiment RLC was honoured to host Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales, who visited CA Pirbright, during Op LONDON BRIDGE to express their gratitude to all the Commonwealth Service Personnel for travelling such a distance.

A number of soldiers from the 8 Fuel & General Transport Squadron had the opportunity to meet the royal couple during their visit including Ptes Fudge and Nicholson.

On Thursday, 22nd September 2022, HRH The Princess Royal visited 27 Regiment RLC to thank HQ 101 OS Brigade and representatives from the 15 RLC Units who played a part, in Op LONDON BRIDGE.

Between them they managed the mammoth logistical challenge to set up logistical hubs for troops travelling in from all over the UK and world. Once centralised the Corps then moved onto how to transport and sustain the them across various locations and ceremonial events throughout London and Windsor.

Op LONDON BRIDGE, a personal experience

By WO1 (SSM) Parry – SO3 Ceremonial Requirements Headquarters London District

It’s 1630hrs on Friday 9th September 22 in a small town called Capileira in Southern Spain and I’ve just sat down with a beer in my hand after finishing a grewsome 800km selfsupported gravel bike race called ‘Badlands’. With little sleep over the last five days, I receive a call from work informing me on the sad news that Her Majesty had passed away. My planned three days of R&R on the beach became an instant memory and organising the fastest way back to the office became my priority.

At the start of the year I was asked if I would be a Marshal for the Civilian Services Contingency (CSC) if an Op BRIDGE was called. These are a group of individuals from all over the UK working in the Police, Fire, Prison Services, St John Ambulance, Royal Auxiliary Fleet, Merchant Navy, Coast Guards, Red Cross, and WRVS. As the SO3 Ceremonial Requirements for HQ London District, I thought it was an honour to be asked and I gleefully accepted, hoping that this day would be a bit longer away than it was.

The first five days of the operation was a blur, organising fast balls for individuals who required ceremonial clothing and moving stock of ceremonial accoutrements around to satisfy the requirements of the Household Division. From D+6 the majority of my work in the world of ceremonial was in place, so I then switched to my role as marshal.

The remaining five days I was embedded with the CSC as a military Liaison Officer/assistant. The early morning rehearsal was the first time this contingency got together and was the first time some of them conducted drill, never mind marching to the beat of a bass drum from the band of the Royal Marines who were attached to this section. Taking this

8 WO1(SSM) Parry

into consideration they did remarkably well. My job as a marshal was to march four paces to the right of the contingency helping them to maintain their dressing and keeping the step. The following three days were spent at Pirbright Camp conducting drill rehearsals for the main day.

The day of Her Majesty’s funeral was soon upon us. The planning and preparation for the biggest event in the country, probably since Her Majesty’s coronation, was about to take place. Everyone from the Household Division was dressed and equipped correctly (relief) and everything on the surface worked like a well-oiled engine.

The CSC did amazingly well. Their drill was fantastic and to see where they had come from to the how they performed on the day, was impressive. For me the honour of being the only non-Foot Guard Marshal, and the only member of The RLC acting in such a role, was the highlight of my 28 year career.

On the announcement of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 8th September 2022, RLC Units and Service Personnel responded swiftly to implement longstanding commitments to Op LONDON BRIDGE.

27 Regiment RLC 27 Regt played a lead role in providing vital support to the preparation and delivery of the State Funeral on the 19th September 2022. Responding rapidly to the announcement of Her Majesty’s death, 27 Regt had a longstanding plan to support the establishment of two Concentration Areas (CAs). 8 Fuel & General Transport Squadron established CA Pirbright, 91 Supply Squadron established CA Longmoor and 77 HQ Sqn and LAD supported transport and movement via Heston Services and Coach Marshalling Areas in London and Windsor. While being based out of different locations, each subunit received multiple attachments from across Defence and cooperated with additional agencies including London District and the Metropolitan Police, to ensure that the preparation, delivery and recovery of all ceremonial personnel and activities throughout Op LONDON BRIDGE was efficient and seamless.

Throughout Op LONDON BRIDGE, the working tempo was high but for 8 F&GT Sqn there was the added privilege of hosting a number of visitors at CA Pirbright including the Joint Commander, Lieutenant General Cave CB, and the Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Patrick Saunders and the Army Sergeant Major, WO1 Paul Carney. These visits afforded the opportunity for soldiers to guide senior military personnel on tours of the site, briefing them on their various roles and responsibilities and providing assurance of the support delivered. The confidence, competence, and professionalism of those involved was recognised and remarked upon with Ptes Tsasse and Uddin receiving CGS coins for their efforts delivering accommodation.

The Army Photographer trade was tasked with capturing the events surrounding the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. This required them to get as close to their subjects and the events as possible while maintaining a respectful distance.

Cpl Nanda Atherton, a newly qualified Army Photographer, shares her experience: “The highlight of my new career so far was deploying on Op BRIDGE to Windsor Castle for The Queen’s funeral, which was a huge honour and a very humbling moment. It was incredible to see the effect first hand, Her Majesty’s passing had on her family and the world. I also travelled to Cardiff Castle to get images of King Charles’ first visit as King, to Wales and the Senedd. I was no more than a few metres away from him, just months after qualifying as an Army Photographer!”

Op LONDON BRIDGE

8 LCpl Smith, 8 F&GT Sqn captured the

action of over 100 coaches moving into central London

The RLC’s Army Photographers

8 Cpl Atherton photographs King Charles III on his first visit to Wales, as King, in early September 2022

YOUR CAREER, YOUR CALL

Career management team

RLC SOLDIERS

SO1: Lt Col Bratcher SO2: Maj Polson SO3: Capt Bannister WO1: WO1 Neilson QOGLR: SSgt Subba

A regular challenge presented to us as Career Managers the APC, is that of finding volunteers to fill some of the Corps’ jobs in units which are not necessarily the first ones you think of when you consider roles in The RLC. These include more obvious appointments such as instructors at training establishments and those in-trade but with additional responsibilities, but there are also some of the lesser-known jobs that seem to be heralded as well-kept secrets.

Over the next few issues of The Sustainer, the APC update will contain some insight from those who have actually been there and done that, so they can tell you the ground truth and the benefits they have realised from the roles. The RLC has some of the most diverse employment opportunities in the Armed Forces available to it. Let’s take advantage of them!

In this edition we have focussed on soldiers who have stepped outside of trade to be employed as instructors at Basic Training, Initial Trade Training and beyond. They highlight the benefits to their subsequent careers.

On pages 18 and 19, the Logistic Support Squadron highlights RLC opportunities in the Commando Logistic Regiment.

Cpl Heaney I was promoted to Corporal in August 2019 on the instructor board and was assigned to the Army Foundation College Harrogate (AFC(H)). Prior to gaining promotion, I was an MT Green Fleet NCO. This was my first managerial role and it fuelled my ambition to venture down the instructor pathway. I completed the Defence General Service Driving

8 Cpl Heaney

Conversion Instructor course; this was my first instructor qualification and I was now the only person qualified to deliver driver training within the Sqn. The confidence this gave me to instruct on all platforms, ensuring currency and competency was priceless in my development.

AFC(H) was one of the best experiences so far in my career. It allowed me to develop and brought me out of my shell, giving me the fundamental base to progress to a quality instructor. I gained a wide range of qualifications such as: Counter Explosive Ordnance Instructor, All Arms Skill at Arms Instructor, CBRN Instructor, and K Qual. However, the most notable qualification was the All-Arms Basic Drill Course, which I used to teach my platoon basic drill movements to a high standard, going on to win the inter-platoon drill competition. Whilst in the College, I also gained the Army Trainer Mentor qualification. This enabled me to complete a Level 5 CMI qualification in coaching and mentoring.

Upon return to 47 AD Sqn, in January 2022 I have been able to utilise the qualifications I achieved to further develop members of the Sqn, ensuring they keep in date with their training and maintain the Sqn’s at readiness profile. The Sqn has also supported and encouraged me to start the BSc in Logistics Management and expand upon my coaching and mentoring skills within the troop lines and with the Oxfordshire Netball Team. Having promoted from my report at Harrogate, I am excited to be starting as an SNCO instructor within 85 Sqn in January 2023 and to continue on my journey and ambition of becoming an instructor at RMAS.

Sgt Jones I first took an interest in becoming an instructor in 2015 whilst I was a LCpl at 13AASP. I was delegated to teach my subordinates an array of EC lessons prior to attending the Defence Instructional Techniques Course as a way of gaining confidence. This really threw me in at the deep end. I had no idea how to prepare a lesson, let alone have the confidence to stand up in front of my troop and deliver it.

After receiving feedback from my Troop SSgt, I started to gain in confidence and wanted to continue delivering lessons. This was then highlighted on my report and I gained promotion to Cpl with an Asterix. The Asterix meant that I was heading to a training establishment to become an instructor and my aim was to become an instructor at Pirbright, where I conducted my Basic Training (BT). With just over six years’ experience in the Army, I was apprehensive about my abilities.

Moving forward three months, I completed my Junior Potential Instructor Cadre (JPIC) - now the Instructor Development Cadre (IDC). This course puts individuals under immense pressure, and this made me work even harder to achieve the recommendation to BT. Coming

8 Sgt Jones

away from the JPIC with a recommendation to BT, I remember feeling anxious but also excited about where I would be instructing. A couple of weeks later I received an assignment order to ATC Pirbright.

Arriving at ATC Pirbright in Jan 17 was an exciting, yet daunting experience. I remember feeling out of my depth, but over time I gained a wealth of experience from the colleagues I worked with. Within my first year at Pirbright I had completed my DTTT course and took three regular intakes through training. During my second year at ATC Pirbright, I decided to ask for an extension, due to the enjoyment I got from instructing but also for job satisfaction that I knew I wouldn’t get in a mainstream unit. Whilst at Pirbright I gained Skill at Arms Instructor, BCD Instructor, MQual, KQual and Army Trainor Mentor qualifications.

After three and a half years at Pirbright, having successfully passed out eight Regular and three Reserve intakes, I posted to 27 Regt RLC. I wanted to continue instructing, so I decided to go on a pre-Instructor Development Cadre for the Regt. This saw individuals who aspire to become instructors gain their first experience in teaching and I intended they would be able to attend the IDC in the future. I then became Directing Staff (DS) on a LCpl ALDP course which the Regiment ran. This gave me the opportunity to continue developing my instructional ability but now I was teaching trained soldiers who were becoming JNCOs.

Promoting to Sgt, I once again came off the board with an Asterix and was assigned to 85 (Herring VC) Sqn – the RLC’s only military skills training sqn. The Sqn gives lots of opportunities for instructors to learn and develop further. This job enabled me to develop others in the next stage of their careers, as well as enhancing my knowledge of instructing whilst teaching on ALDP courses. I am currently the Senior Instructor for the IDC which sees students who are assigned as instructors or gives insight for those JNCOs wanting to become instructors. This course now takes on a developmental role for the students attending.

Going forward, I am aiming to progress my instructional abilities to enable me to have the best chance of becoming an instructor at RMAS. This is something that I have been working towards since 2018 when I attended the RLC’s Pre Sandhurst-Cadre.

WO2 (SSM) Brown When I joined the Army in 2005, I knew I wanted to be a Section Commander, taking inspiration from my BT training team who were ridiculously professional and had extremely high standards. After my first posting to 13 Air Assault Support Regiment, where I was pushed out of my comfort zone daily teaching lessons, I moved to 7 Regt RLC in Germany where I continued where I left off taking lessons for the Troop. I attended a Defence Instructor Techniques (DIT) course which is where my passion truly came alive with formal feedback of my ability to instruct which I had lacked up until this point. In 2013 I promoted to Corporal with an Asterix which meant I would attend a Junior Potential Instructors Cadre (JPIC) prior to getting assigned if successful to BT or ITT.

I was lucky enough to get assigned to AFC(H) in 2014, and once the Assignment Order was issued, I was given the opportunity to attend the All Arms Skill at Arms (AASAA) course, Basic Casualty Drills Trainer (BCDT) course and the Basic Drill instructor course setting me up to hit the ground running at the AFC. Instructing at AFC completely opened my eyes to the wider Army, working in a multi-capbadge environment with high-calibre instructors gave me an abundance of experience that I would take with me for the rest of my career. Promoting to Sgt out of a BT establishment was a very proud moment. It wasn’t the promotion that was important but proving myself in such a diverse environment, changing the opinions of certain cap badges whilst representing the Corps was extremely significant for me.

I returned to the training environment in 2019 as the Operations SNCO within 109 Sqn, 25 Regt RLC shortly after it moved from Deepcut to the Defence School of Transport, Leconfield. The ITT environment had massively changed since 2005 however having experience within BT definitely guided me when creating and implementing the continuation training programme for the trainees on holdover. I ensured the instructors stayed current and competent through courses and enabled them to deliver the continuation training, taking the ITTTs from BT standard to Field Army ready.

I was extremely grateful to promote to WO2 and as a Squadron Sergeant Major (SSM) was the icing on the cake. This selection meant a great deal to me, as SSM had always being a longterm aspiration since entering the training environment as a Corporal. Getting selected to take up post at 85 (Herring VC) Sqn as the SSM was an absolute privilege, back in the environment I enjoy the most.

8 WO2 (SSM) Brown

Conductors Branch RLC Association

The Conductors Branch of the RLC Association was formed in 2005 The aims of the Branch are to foster relations between Serving and Retired Conductors of this unique and prestigious appointment enacted by Queen Victoria and enshrined in a Statute of Westminster in 1827. Details on joining the Branch may be obtained from the Branch Secretary, Steve Swales at swales1976@gmail.com