History-makers First all-reservist tank crew since WWII deployed
AGLOUCESTERSHIRE soldier along with three other brothers-in-arms have made regimental history.
They are believed to be the first fullyformed crew from the British Army’s Armoured Reserve Regiment to serve on operations since the Second World War.
Lance Corporal George Dwight, 27, from Cirencester, and his Challenger 2 main battle tank crew achieved the feat while serving in Estonia, serving as part of Nato’s Enhanced Forward Presence (EFP).
The part-time soldiers were deployed with the Royal Tank Regiment battlegroup on Operation Cabrit – the name of the UK operational deployment established to demonstrate that the alliance stands united to respond to any threat to the security of the Baltic Sea region.
The four soldiers are normally based with the Royal Wessex Yeomanry in the South West. However, the last time a reservist tank crew from the regiment’s previous units deployed was almost 80 years ago, in 1944, when the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry were deployed to Italy and took part in the advance on Rome.
Lcpl Dwight said: “It’s a privilege for me and my crew to be deployed here in Estonia, especially to be amongst the first. I hope there’s many more and it paves the way for other crews that are coming out here on future tours.
“I’m also a French linguist, which means I’ve been able to work with our French counterparts and help out on the different French battlegroups that we’ve been working with. It also included an exercise in Latvia.”
Lcpl Dwight attended Deer Park School in Cirencester and enlisted as a reservist in the infantry in 2014 before transferring to the Yeomanry two years ago. This is the second time he has deployed on operations – he was previously with the United Nations peacekeeping force in Cyprus.
His job as a watersports activity coordinator is far removed from that of driving the 72-tonne tracked vehicle, but Lcpl Dwight has embraced the diversity of roles he has had.
He said: “I get to put people on kayaks and paddleboards all day, so it makes a big change to being out here on a tank. So that’s the sort of thing that I like – the variety, the difference between my civilian job and this role.”
Downtime on his deployment has allowed him to run in the Tartu Half Marathon in eastern Estonia. He has also competed in Exercise Baltic Warrior, with plans to take on another of the endurance challenges next month.
The exercise tests the multinational EFP soldiers’ physical and mental resilience in a spirit of friendly competition. It consists of walking 22km (13½ miles) with a 15kg backpack, 2km (1¼ miles) carrying a canoe weighing 35kg and then rafting for 11kms (just under seven miles).
Lcpl Dwight said: “The Army Reserves offer so many opportunities, you’ve definitely got to take advantage of every single one. It gives you the best opportunity for adventure training and going abroad – that’s the best thing for me.”
The Royal Wessex Yeomanry formed in 1971 through the amalgamation of the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars and the Royal Devon Yeomanry and was joined in 1999 by the Dorset Yeomanry and in 2014 by A Squadron of the Royal Yeomanry.