Re-affirming the Freedom of Blaenau Gwent

Having returned from Op CABRIT in Estonia in July and following a few weeks of post operational tour leave, A Company hit the ground running with an incredibly busy schedule in the run up to Christmas. With a two week long CSTTX in the simulators in Paderborn, Germany a few short weeks away, A Coy were up against it to prepare themselves for the Freedom of Blaenau Gwent parade on Saturday 22nd September.

Company Sergeant Major Burford was determined that A Coy would arrive in the town of Brynmawr ready to reaffirm 1st Battalion the Royal Welsh’s Freedom of Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council in the best light. Therefore, he was sure to make the most of any opportunity to get out on the drill square.

The first opportunity to blow the cobwebs off our drill movements fell in early September, but not again until the two days before the parade itself. In only a few short hours on Thursday and Friday we had to memorise the order of the parade, the drill movements and then prepare our uniforms. With a busier schedule than most, OC A Coy, Major Alex Rabbitt, also had the words of command to learn by heart. No pressure!