Yorkshire soldiers on penguin patrol
17 Apr 08
More than 90 soldiers from the 1st Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment's C Company have deployed to the Falkland Islands where their patrols have taken them closer than they thought to the local wildlife.
Soldiers from 1 YORKS' C Coy on patrol with local Falkland Island penguins
[Picture: Army]
They have deployed as part of the British Army's Falkland Islands Roulement Infantry Company (FIRIC) commitment and for the 1 YORKS soldiers, the harsh terrain, testing weather, and wonderful wildlife of the Falklands as well as the historic gravity of walking in the footsteps of those who served in the Conflict of 26 years ago, have ensured their deployment will be one to remember.
While there, they have undertaken numerous training exercises including a five-day, gruelling exercise in the field. RAF Sea King helicopters were used to move them about the vast range area, where there are no roads, with additional assistance from the Royal Navy's HMS Clyde and support ship MV Brandon's landing craft. Troops were also able to call on the RAF for Emergency Close Air Support from Tornado F3 aircraft and supply drops from Hercules C130.
Sergeant Darren Hunter, Platoon Sergeant C Company, said the experience had been a unique one:
"The training that we've covered in the last week has been, well, there's been no other training like it that I've covered in my Army career, and the weather system that we're in as well it's totally different - you can have four seasons in one day!"
Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Jackson
[Picture: Army]
Commanding Officer of 1 YORKS, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Jackson, praised the usefulness of the exercise:
"I think they have the unrivalled opportunity here in the Falkland Islands for really good training and some of the live firing training is as good as I have seen in my army career."
The Islands maintain an infantry company to guard against invasion and provide a presence on the ground. Their role also includes conducting training for soldiers based at Mount Pleasant Airfield, as well as for the Falkland Island Defence Force, who are the locally maintained volunteer defence unit.
During their deployment the soldiers were given the chance to learn more about the Conflict of 26 years ago and take part in a battlefield tour. One of those who took the tour was Private Chris Gill:
"I learnt so much about it, just from being up there and saw how they lived and what they had to do, and some of the war stories from what individuals did," he said.
C Coy soldiers during a night live firing exercise
[Picture: Army]
Not just renowned for the conflict in 1982, the Falklands Islands are also home to more than 200 species of birds including five different types of penguins. There are approximately 770,000 penguins, outnumbering the human population of 2,478. It was the first time many of the soldiers had come so close to wildlife whilst on patrol:
"It's really strange being out here like, 'cause the wildlife comes straight up to you and stuff, like on patrol the sheep was all over you - coming right up to your feet and stuff - it's surreal really," said one young soldier.
"It's the first time I've seen penguins," he added. "I came onto here expecting them to be miles away - a little walk from the Land Rover, penguins were all over the shop!"
Last year, soldiers from 1 YORKS carried out a six-month tour in Iraq with 19 (Light) Brigade, C Company spearheading the majority of strike operations conducted. In July, 1 Yorks will move to Münster in Germany.