Brigade Week 2015 is well underway with after a Wednesday of interesting briefings about the year gone along with glimpses things to come followed by the Sounding the Retreat outside RMA Sandhurst and the Brigade Dinner Night.
The lectures at Sandhurst’s Churchill Hall started with Colonel BG, Col James Robinson, giving an overview of what has been a tremendous year for the Brigade with Gurkha 200 celebrations and much more. This was accompanied by a sombering review of the impact of the earthquake on operations in Nepal by Lt Col V Young, Chief of Staff at BGN and furthermore the impact on the people of Nepal by GWT Director Col Shuttlewood. The mood was lifted however by hair raising account by Major Andy Todd covering the events on Mount Everest during the quake – a real tale of bravery.
Col Cbt, Colonel Hadfield gave an update on Military Security with AD ADOC, Col Banton following this up with an Operations and Commitments update.
There was also a wonderful overview of the 200 years of Gurkha history by the curator of the Gurkha Museum in Winchester, Mr Gavin Edgerley-Harris before General Pope closed the event with words of encouragement and praise. General Pope also had the enjoyable task of congratulating Lt Col Yam Rana from QG Signals on his recent promotion and to exchange his rank slide before giving him a khada and a flower garland.
The Sounding the Retreat event provided an enjoyable counter to the business proceedings of the day at Old College Square. Attended by the Secretary of State for Defence, Michael Fallon MP , as well as former CGS Sir Peter Wall GCB, CBE, and Colonel John Douglas Slim, 2nd Viscount Slim OBE, DL, FRGS.
The Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas performed the Sounding of the Retreat in front of about a hundred people who got to see the famous kukri dance before retiring to the dining hall in RMA Sandhurst’s Old College for a traditional Gurkha Curry and drinks.
The next events of the week include the RGR RABO on Friday and the Kathmandu and Nepal Cup finals at the fantastic Gurkha 200 Bhela in Aldershot on Saturday – we urge everyone to come along and support the teams and enjoy the various entertainments on offer for all the family.
Briefing Day Image Gallery
Sounding Retreat Image Gallery
Dinner Night Image Gallery
Videos of some of the lectures will be available in the coming days.
