As the nearest Scottish (Infantry) regiment to the London Weather Centre, I do feel that the company commander could have some influence over lan McGaskell's choice of isobars and pressures. Snow had been failing in London all week and, as the weekend approached, the "eye" of the snowstorm seemed to centre over the north of Folkestone.

We do have to thank Major Scott-Barrett for writing the NBC treat into the weekend's programme, without our now permanent NBC suits we would have certainly been wetter, and a lot colder.

We didn't move until 0400 on Saturday because of the weather. Unfortunately no one told the Green Jackets who were having awful trouble finding us. The real reason for moving at this time, as Mr Wirgman told us later, was that there were no fish and chip shops open at 4.00 in the morning.

Having attended Mr McAdams' lecture on defence tactics the previous Tuesday, we were amazed to find ourselves on a forward facing slope! With about a foot of snow covering everything and our dark green NBC suits we were about as tactical as a flashing neon sign. Although as the weekend progressed, we became less obvious as the snow covered everything.

Captain Campbell confirmed the positions that Mr Wirgman had allotted to us and we started digging in. It was at this point, as we removed equipment to dig, that we noticed how easy it was to lose "bits and pieces". At one time the total missing items looked like this: 1 SMG, 2 helmets, 1 TOS, Private Pillar, Poncho, Plt HQ, 1 shovel and 2 picks. Thankfully everything was relocated except one pick-head and Plt HQ which were both written off as exercise losses.

The engineers gave us a demonstration of the equipment they were using and how minefields are laid. This proved very interesting and everyone made good use of the question time afterwards.

After a spot more digging the SPSI held a demonstration on the dangers of blank rounds and pyrotechnics, and how to use them safely. Sgt Maj Knowles colourful lecture was both instructive and humorous, and served as an insight and reminder to the untrained and trained soldiers respectively.

During that morning a lot of grunting noises had been heard coming from the direction of Coy HQ, then what sounded like a generator. The result of all this commotion was the next "stand" on the agenda. Captain's Campbell and Tourney had led Coy HQ in digging a text-book style fire trench. It really was an amazing feat. What really amazed us was that nobody in Coy HQ had muddy boots?! Different soil?

By the time dusk came the snow was really coming down. It soon became apparent that we might well lose a few sleeping Jocks if we didn't centralize them. Each section command trench was duly surrounded by maggots and the Stag duties began.

It was, still, frightening to wake-up and look around to find only the sentry and a cluster of white bumps around you.

Visability around the Telecom tower (two-hundred yards behind us) was becoming pretty poor as the snow clouds came in from the sea. It wasn't helped by a large set of red fog lights coming on when it became really bad. The result was a red swirling fog of snow. The static vibration around the tower was also very oppressive and a few people felt "heady" and wanted to go to the field ambulance station (nothing to do with the cold or the snow). It was decided that it was safer to stay than have a field dressing put on by Cpl Hills. There was no danger from the Telecom tower, although it was rumoured that the CSM tucked 6 plt into their bags to the sounds of "Puffin Story-line" (01 246 8000).

The RGJ had only troubled 6 plt a few times, and from our position we had strafed them successfully. During the Saturday night they sneaked in around to our rear and started making noises. Again Coy HQ showed their versatility and saw them off... with a little help from the rifle sections.

At dawn the engineers made a gallant attack on our left flank. Running through two-foot snowdrifts after the trek up the bill made the going very hard and slow.

G Coy's advance to contact was also slow going through knee-high snow and steep hills. The combined RGJ and RE position suffered a full frontal attack by 4 and 6 plt whilst the recce were doing spectacular things in the snow on the flanks and finally to their rear. We won again and went to breakfast.

The lesson from this weekend in the snow is; look after your equipment at all times otherwise you have to pay for it, like 4 plt had to the following Tuesday.

I've been told not to mention Pte Adams crashing into the gate-post, so I won't.

Last updated 29/4/03