Cambrian Patrol and Aberfan

October 23, 2016  •  Leave a Comment

What an amazing and privileged week!

 

Over the past five days I have covered the arduous Cambrian Patrol exercise in Wales, photographing soldiers from the Czech Republic, Australia and the UK, been knee deep in mud on the Sennybridge training area, had a run-in with a group of wild horses, photographed Welsh Assembly Members on a VIP visit, had a flight in a Puma helicopter - ticking another mode of transport off of my list - and had the honour and the privilege to be part of the Aberfan memorial service marking 50 years since one of the worst peacetime disasters in British History, which was by far the most important part of the whole week.

 

APOWMID-2016-062-019APOWMID-2016-062-019Scots Guards Guardsman George Hore, Shawn Clarkson and Calum Young.

Patrol Base Green in Rhayader Exercise Cambrian Patrol Phase 5.

Cambrian patrol is an annual patrol competition.


Photographer:
Corporal Paul Shaw ABIPP

 

Cambrian patrol is a week long military skills exercise run over rugged mountain terrain in Wales where teams from around the globe compete to win Gold in each of the stages of the event by showing their soldiering skills and military prowess. The competition included a simulated helicopter crash site and Chemical, Nuclear, Biological and Radiological serials.

 

 

APOWMID-2016-062-106APOWMID-2016-062-106Soldiers treat wounded casualties from a simulated helicopter crash.

Harbour area and CBRN phases of Cambrian Patrol.

Cambrian patrol is an annual patrol competition.


Photographer:
Corporal Paul Shaw ABIPP
APOWMID-2016-062-113APOWMID-2016-062-113Soldiers treat wounded casualties from a simulated helicopter crash.

Harbour area and CBRN phases of Cambrian Patrol.

Cambrian patrol is an annual patrol competition.


Photographer:
Corporal Paul Shaw ABIPP
APOWMID-2016-062-147APOWMID-2016-062-147Australian soldiers in a harbour area.

Harbour area and CBRN phases of Cambrian Patrol.

Cambrian patrol is an annual patrol competition.


Photographer:
Corporal Paul Shaw ABIPP
APOWMID-2016-062-149APOWMID-2016-062-149Harbour area and CBRN phases of Cambrian Patrol.

Cambrian patrol is an annual patrol competition.


Photographer:
Corporal Paul Shaw ABIPP
APOWMID-2016-062-156APOWMID-2016-062-156Harbour area and CBRN phases of Cambrian Patrol.

Cambrian patrol is an annual patrol competition.


Photographer:
Corporal Paul Shaw ABIPP
APOWMID-2016-062-157APOWMID-2016-062-157Wild horses.

Harbour area and CBRN phases of Cambrian Patrol.

Cambrian patrol is an annual patrol competition.


Photographer:
Corporal Paul Shaw ABIPP
APOWMID-2016-062-168APOWMID-2016-062-168Czech Republic soldiers carry out personal admin in the harbour area.

Harbour area and CBRN phases of Cambrian Patrol.

Cambrian patrol is an annual patrol competition.


Photographer:
Corporal Paul Shaw ABIPP
APOWMID-2016-062-183APOWMID-2016-062-183Harbour area and CBRN phases of Cambrian Patrol.

Cambrian patrol is an annual patrol competition.


Photographer:
Corporal Paul Shaw ABIPP
APOWMID-2016-062-214APOWMID-2016-062-214Soldiers get ready for the CBRN phase of Cambrian Patrol.

Harbour area and CBRN phases of Cambrian Patrol.

Cambrian patrol is an annual patrol competition.


Photographer:
Corporal Paul Shaw ABIPP
APOWMID-2016-062-222APOWMID-2016-062-222A soldier puts on his respirator.

Harbour area and CBRN phases of Cambrian Patrol.

Cambrian patrol is an annual patrol competition.


Photographer:
Corporal Paul Shaw ABIPP
APOWMID-2016-062-234APOWMID-2016-062-234Harbour area and CBRN phases of Cambrian Patrol.

Cambrian patrol is an annual patrol competition.


Photographer:
Corporal Paul Shaw ABIPP
APOWMID-2016-062-250APOWMID-2016-062-250A Czech Republic soldier adjusts his helmet strap.

Harbour area and CBRN phases of Cambrian Patrol.

Cambrian patrol is an annual patrol competition.


Photographer:
Corporal Paul Shaw ABIPP

 

Darren Millar AM and David Rowlands AM were just a couple of the VIPs to visit 160th Infantry Brigade during Cambrian Patrol, where they tried out the latest military kit and took a ride in a Puma helicopter.

 

APOWMID-2016-063-030APOWMID-2016-063-030Exercise Cambrian Patrol VIP visit day.

Cambrian Patrol is an annual event where teams from around the world compete to complete military tasks.

Photographer:
Corporal Paul Shaw ABIPP
APOWMID-2016-063-083APOWMID-2016-063-083A Puma helicopter flown by the RAF was used to take the VIPs on a flight around Sennybridge Training Area (SENTA)

Exercise Cambrian Patrol VIP visit day.

Cambrian Patrol is an annual event where teams from around the world compete to complete military tasks.

Photographer:
Corporal Paul Shaw ABIPP
APOWMID-2016-063-126APOWMID-2016-063-126Exercise Cambrian Patrol VIP visit day.

Cambrian Patrol is an annual event where teams from around the world compete to complete military tasks.

Photographer:
Corporal Paul Shaw ABIPP
APOWMID-2016-063-157APOWMID-2016-063-157Exercise Cambrian Patrol VIP visit day.

Cambrian Patrol is an annual event where teams from around the world compete to complete military tasks.

Photographer:
Corporal Paul Shaw ABIPP

 

At 0915 on the 21st October 1966, a mountain of coal waste slid into a school and houses in the Welsh village of Aberfan. The disaster, one of the worst in British peacetime history killed 144 people, including 116 children. I had the honour and the privilege to attend the 50th anniversary memorial at the cemetery where the bodies of the victims lay in eternal peace.

 

APOWMID-2016-064-006APOWMID-2016-064-006Brigadier Alan Richmond OBE attended the Aberfan memorial service marking the 50th anniversary of the disaster.

Brigadier Richmond, Commander 160th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Wales laid a wreath on behalf of the Armed Forces.

In 1966 Soldiers helped with the relief effort in Aberfan in the aftermath of the tragedy.

Photographer:
Corporal Paul Shaw ABIPP


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