It was with some trepidation that I arrived at 95 Horseferry Road that Friday night in April. Here was I, a Trooper in the Royal Yeomanry, and I was about to spend a weekend of FIBUA training in ever sunny Catterick with a load of "Mad Jocks". I was, if I am to be honest, a little nervous.

After various comments on the fact that I wore a beret, a black one at that, we drew kit and boarded our coach for the journey "up North". Journey time was approximately five hours and eventually we arrived at the Winney Hill FIBUA complex.

I was placed in Mr Norman's 5 Platoon and was given the envious task of being Cpl. Perales' gunner. Saturday morning was spent being given various lectures on FIBUA tactics and principles by the PSIs and members of The Liverpool Scottish. This included, much to my horror, a race with grappling irons up the outside of a building. Not a task us Troopers enjoy away from the comforts of our Spartans. Generally my previous training has been basic military skills and weekends away are spent usually on exercise with Sabre Squadrons. Come the afternoon we progressed onto our first house clearing operation. Admittedly, our first attempt was a little brash and co-ordination lacking. L/Cpl Martin seemed particularly keen to take the village on his own with such classic lines as "I can see them in the window. Let's charge them!"

Then followed the exciting and most rewarding part of the weekend. Exercise sandbags. Sandbags are not items that Troopers enjoy and our location meant that our sand pit was furthest from the building we were to defend. However, the Jocks complained only a little and shifted vast numbers of bags back up to the house we were to defend. There we set about reinforcing ceilings and walls, windows were blocked with chicken wire and hessian. Downstairs sandbags were placed two deep so a Command bunker was built while upstairs and on the roof fire positions were established. Traps along the stairs were set up and that night we awaited the assault upon our position. After all our efforts though we were never rewarded with an attack.

As dawn broke Mr Clemence gathered us for an attack on buildings held by members of The Liverpool Scottish. The adrenalin pumped round as we cleared rooms in two man fire teams. Unfortunately an incident with a band grenade led to certain PSIs getting a little upset. Mr Clemence, O/Cdt Fraser, Cpl Perales and a large number of the platoon "died" in this heroic engagement. This led to L/Cpl Martin being promoted to Platoon Commander and continuing the clearance! We were debriefed by the OC of V Company and as with all good weekends a great many lessons were learned. Then fell the task of taking down all our marvellous sandbag constructions. Such a waste!

The FIBUA weekend was most enjoyable and something which, as a Trooper in the RAC, I would have had little opportunity to do. All the Jocks I met had a great sense of humour and I feel that my decision to transfer to the London Scottish was a wise one, although only time will tell.

Darrell McLennan Fordyce 
Trooper, Royal Yeomanry

Last updated 27th September 2000