Exercise ‘Ex Elburz March‘, by Tpr Davidson In June and July 1973. LCpl Fuller and Tpr Davidson RHG/D, were members of a party of nine people who formed 'Ex Elburz March”. The object of the exercise was to reach the Alamut Valley._ The Alamut, famous as ‘The Valley of the Assassms‘. lies at a height of 7.000ft in the Elburz mountain range. just west of Damavand. Iran’s highest peak (18.375ft). and about 30 miles off the south—west coast of the Caspian Sea. _With the aid of six mules hired to carry the necessary
The Royal Canadian Dragoons 1973 Currently garrisoned in Lahr. West Germany. this Regiment forms the armoured component of the 4th Canadian Mechanised Brigade Group. The Regiment comprises a Regimental Headquarters, a Headquarters Squadron, two Tank Squadrons equipped with Centurion Mk XI and one Reconnaissance Squadron equipped with Lynx. (The Lynx is a tracked recce vehicle. American
built to Canadian specifications and is part of the M113 family.) The year 1973 began with participation in January in the American exercise Reforger IV. This major annual exercise is designed to test the flyover abilities of American NATO reinforcement troops. The Canadian Brigade takes part in the tactical exercise that follows their initial deployment from the USA. The next few months saw the Regiment take part in the NATO exercise Wintex. a gun camp in Hohne and a spring Regimental training session in Munsingen. This training was conducted as a work-up for all levels culminating in Squadron test exercises. Summer brought with it rotation of about one-third of the Regiment to/from Canada. Concurrently B Squadron participated in exercise Zulu, an American medical evacuation practice and a Regimental team of volunteer marchers took part in the Nijmegen Marches. Fall brought the most rigorous training period of the year. The Regiment. along with the rest of the Brigade, moved to the American training area of Hohenfels in Bavaria and began training designed to integrate its new arrivals from Canada. This training period was followed by exercise Donau Dash, in which the Brigade was
kit and rations, the llO-mile march from Gashsar t0
the entrance of the valley was managed in 12 days. Along the way. calls were made at small villages, the inhabitants of which made the party welcome with wellearned cups of ‘chay‘. The language barrier was eliminated by the party‘s interpreter, Major Wylie Carrick of the 2nd Gurkhas, and by incredible noises and demonstations from everyone else. It was due to the number of
village children that the ration of chocolate and sweets was soon exhausted. Three days were spent in the valley, and two of the castles were explored only after difiicult climbs were made to reach them. The castles were built by Hassan Sabah, the first “Grand Master of the Assassins‘ whom
«m ' C Squadron Lynx on road move
the Shah Elburz (13,000ft), and the last few days which were spent in Isfahan, Iran’s main tourist centre, where,
at long last, cool beer was to be found.
exercised as a formation, and exercise Raub Vogel in
which the Canadians acted as an enemy force for German reserve troops. These exercises were followed by a twoweek respite, then once again it was back to the field for another American exercise, Reforger V. The fall exercises ended the fieldwork for the year. Back in garrison the Regiment celebrated Leliefontein with a mounted Trooping of the Guidon, sports day, and various social functions. This annual celebration commemorates
the
action
of 7th
November,
1900,
the Crusaders called ‘The Old Man of the Mountains‘. Marco Polo described him as: ‘A Strange Magician who intoxicated young men with drugs and sent them out to kill Kings and Princes’. The young men were called Haschischins (hence the word ‘assassin’) because he made them drunk with hashish. Two of the highlights of the trip to Iran, which lasted just over three weeks: one was reaching the summit of
during which three members of the Regiment won the Victoria Cross. Hard on the heels of Leliefontein, Brigadier General P. V. B. Grieve, Commander 4 CMBG and a past Com— manding Ofl‘icer ofthis Regiment, carried out his annual inspection of the unit on 16th November, 1973. From mid-November on, the Regiment has busied itself with the conduct of trades courses, semi-annual physical fitness testing and gunnery training in preparation for its next Hohne gun camp in January 1974.
Tpr Davidson
On 2lst December, the Regiment celebrated its 90th
birthday. Ninety years of unbroken, regular service to Queen and country is not a matter of particular significance in the British Army. However, in an organisation as young as the Canadian Forces, it is noteworthy since only two Regiments in the whole of the force can make a like claim. The Canadian Horse Artillery is about 10 years senior while The Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) was formed on the same day as The RCD, 21 st December, 1883. (We continually remind members of The RCR that, since this Regiment was formed in the morning,
formation of their Regiment of infantry obviously had to wait until the afternoon!) in summary. 1973 has been a busy, challenging, and successful year: 1974 promises to be even better, with a
RCD tanlts move through the early morning on ‘Exercise Raub Vogel’
36
rebuild scheduled for our ageing Centurions and construction of additional, sorely needed accommodation planned to begin.
LCpl Fuller anticipating his posting to mounted duties
White Plumes in the Breeze. by Stan Darling (ex-Bandsman and Trumpeter). A history of the Regimental Band of The Royal Dragoons. the oldest Cavalry Regiment ofthe Line. Also contains a description of life in the Cavalry during the first half of this century. Profusely illustrated. some in colour. The Foreword is by General Sir Desmond Fitzpatrick, GCB. pso, MBE, MC. Colonel of The Royal Dragoons 1964-1969. This book has yet to be published. A pre-publication price will be obtained for members of The Blues and Royals Association, serving members of the Regiment and such others who only receive the Journal. Arrangements will. in due course, be made for such copies to be autographed and sent post free. If you would like to reserve a copy please send a stamped addressed envelope ONLY. to: Mr S. Darling. 62 Cel‘n Road. Bonymaen. Swansea. Glam. S. Wales SAI 7HH. 5th January. [974.