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Army Days 1978 - 2000
A brief review of the 22 years of
the Army life of Richard Growden
Antlers Pet Supplies of Porlock
Antlers Pet Supplies
of Porlock
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The Colours of the 3rd Battalion the Light Infantry

These are the Colours of the 3rd Battalion the Light Infantry. When I joined the Army,
having completed training, I joined the 3
rd Battalion the Light Infantry and stayed with the
Battalion until it amalgamated with the 2nd and 1st Battalions Light Infantry in 1993. This,
of course was a sad time for the Battalion but it was thought necessary to reduce the
recruiting and retention problems that all Infantry battalions started to face at that time.
This photograph shows the Colours before they were finally laid to rest in Winchester
Barracks Garrison Church in 1998.
  Courses taken during my service
1979 Basic yacht Handler
1979 Heavy Goods Vehicle
1980 Free Fall Parachute
1980 Sub Aqua
1982 Skill At Arms Instructors
1982 Canoeing Sea Water
1987 Platoon Sergeant's Battle Course
1987 Basic Demolition
1988 Jungle Warfare Instructors
1988 NBC Instructors
1989 Field Firing 3-5 Qualification
1990 Unit Fire NCOs
1991 Mess Supervisors
1992 First Aid Instructors
1995 Unit Search Advisor
1999 Small Arms Training Custodian
 
                The 22 Year Roll
Sep 78 Training Depot Shrewsbury
Mar 79 United Nations Cyprus (3 LI)
Oct  79 Catterick (3 LI)
Jan  80 Jamiaca (3 LI)
Mar 80 Cyprus (3 LI)
Mar 82 Tidworth (3 LI)
May 82 Falkland Islands (3 LI)
Oct  82 Middletown, Northern Ireland (3 LI)
Apr 83 Depot Winchester, Platoon Instructor
Apr 85 Omagh, Northern Ireland (3 LI)
Nov 85 Weeton (3 LI)
Feb 87 Brunei (3 LI)
Apr 87 Kenya (3 LI)
Jun 87 Germany (3 LI)
Jul  87 Cyprus (3 LI)
Sep 89 Falmouth (6 LI), Permanent Staff Instructor
Nov 91 Germany (2 LI)
Jun  93 Dungannen, Northern Ireland
Dec 93 Germany (2 LI)
Mar 94 Commando Training Centre (Royal
Marines), Senior Command Course Instructor
Dec 95 Colchester (1 LI)
Jun  96 Iniskillen (Northern Ireland) (1 LI)
Apr 97 Cyprus (1 LI)
Dec 98 Infantry Recruiting Team, Warminster
(HQ Infantry Team Leader)
Jul  00  Civvie Street
 
   In the Army Recruiting Team, one event we
participated in was to host under-priviledged
children at Warminster Training Centre. This
photograph shows myself and three young children
having won "Army Be The Best" medals on a small
drill competition that I arranged for them.
   When the children arrived they were given "Army
Be The Best" bags and uniforms and then took part
in many different activities throughout the day, the
items in their bags being essential to complete the
days activities.
Richard with under-priviledged children at Warminster Training Centre
     While in Germany in 1992 I formed  
  the Battalion Rugby League Team
  which went on to win the first ever
  match between two Army units for
  Rugby League in the Army.  Since
  that year Rugby League has grown
  within the Army and is now a
  recognised sport.
 In January 1997 the 1st Battalion the Light Infantry were put on full standby for the troubles in Bosnia and at this time I was B Coy Sgt Maj. This photograph shows the 4 Chinook helicopters air lifting the Battalion from an exercise area to Brize Norton. The Battalion being airlifted by Chinook helicopters
On exercise in Jordan   In November 1998 the Battalion deployed from Cyprus to Jordan to carry out an exercise with the Jordanian Army. As a Battalion exercise all elements of the Battalion were moved to Jordan and set up camp in the middle of the desert. This photograph shows me on Remembrance Day with the tented camp in the background.
  I was the camp Sergeant Major and responsible for ensuring that the camp was correctly cleaned and administered during the working day.
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