Soldier – August 2019

http://www.soldiermagazine.co.uk AUGUST 2019 7

Editor Sarah Goldthorpe

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Sports Editor Richard Long

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Assistant Editor Becky Clark

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Assistant Editor Cliff Caswell

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Art Editor Tudor Morgan

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Designer Maddie Marchment

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Photographer Graeme Main

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Photographer Peter Davies

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Advertising Heather Shekyls

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Subscriptions/Enquiries

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Managing Editor Steve Muncey

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SOLDIER – Magazine of the British Army

Ordnance Barracks, Government Road,

Aldershot, Hampshire GU11 2DU.

SOLDIER is published by the Ministry of Defence

and printed by Walstead (Roche) Ltd.

Print contract managed by CDS.

© CROWN COPYRIGHT 2019

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British troops’ news asset

F

OR many soldiers summer leave is

a great chance to lay off the phys,

catch up on sleep, visit friends and

take a holiday.

But for the 11,000 British troops

involved in base moves, August will be

far more hectic than usual.

Among those on the go are the

personnel of 20th Armoured Brigade,

who are returning to the UK from

Paderborn – bringing to an end four

years of relocations from Germany.

And with many being stationed

there since the nineties, last month’s

goodbye ceremonies were poignant.

“There’s a little bit of trepidation, but

I think there’s also a bit of excitement

now,” said Brig Richard Clements,

Commander British Forces Germany.

“The friendships that have been built

here over 70 years are very deep so

there is a real sadness we are going.

“But we’re keeping some presence

in Germany and looking forward to

coming home to the South West and

the home of the British Army.”

Cpl Alex Cairnie (QRH) and his

colleagues are headed for Tidworth.

“There was a split in our regiment

between people who wanted to stay

and go,” he explained.

“Personally, I would have taken a

pay cut to stay here, but being back in

the UK will have its benefits.

“In the long run it will help with

retention – but I’ll miss the warmer

summers and the scenery.”

Col Andrew Devey from the

Directorate of Basing and Infrastructure

reassured Service personnel in an

online video.

“In preparing for this the Army

has invested over £1 billion in new

facilities to enable you to live, work

and train in a modern, fit-for-purpose

environment,” the officer said.

“There’s no escaping the fact that

UK homes are smaller than those you

have been used to in Germany. But I

can assure you that whatever house

you’ve been allocated it’s to the right

standard and to your entitlement.

“We have also worked hard to

accommodate any special family

requirements where they exist.”

Unit welfare officers are the

first point of contact for anyone

experiencing problems with their move,

and troops can also refer to the leaving

pages of BFG Net or their Hive office.

Personnel are also encouraged to

follow @ArmyBasing on Twitter.

Summertime sadness

There’s no

escaping

the fact UK

homes are

smaller

Troops bid emotional farewell to Germany – but UK will bring some perks

Picture: Cpl Ben Beckett, RLC

Capt Richard Pass

(QRH) stands in

an empty officers’

mess ahead

of the unit’s

departure from

Paderborn

GERMANY: WHAT REMAINS

• Sennelager Training
  Centre


• Ammunition depot in
  Wulfen


• Moenchengladbach
  vehicle depot


• Sennelager Garrison
  (Garrison Support Unit)


• Germany Enabling
  Office


• 23 Amphibious
  Engineer Squadron, RE


• AT facilities in Bavaria

Troops file into a Paderborn drumhead service

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