1991 – 1993
Exactly two years after the first UNFICYP deployment in 1989 the Regiment returned for a further six month tour in June 1991. They were again responsible for the Green Line Sector 2.
Once again 4 RTR in Cyprus was to be divided with squadrons rotating between:
a. Sector 2 with RHQ at St David’s Camp, Nicosia, Western Sqn at the Box Factory and Eastern Sqn at Camp Elizabeth.
b. Eastern Sovereign Base Area (SBA) with the HQ and one Sqn at Alexander Barracks in Dhekelia and one Sqn at Ayios Nikolaos.
Major Metcalf of the Queens Own Hussars hands over the box factory to Major Alistair Fyfe, OC Cambrai Squadron.
The Box Factory and OP.
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| B 33, Lt McMillan’s base and OP. | B 23 and 24, Lt Pike’s Base and OPs. | |
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RSM Stuart King. CO Martin Speller and Adjt Patrick Kidd
The WO and Sgts Mess St David’s Camp.
RSM S A S King.
| Lt Martin with a patrol in Nicosia. | The work was unremitting… | |
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..but there were varied ways of relaxing. In no time the tour was almost finished.
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The Standard was Trooped at the Medals Parade. Then 4 RTR was back to Osnabruck having completed the last operational tour in its 77 year history.
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Cambrai Day, Wayne’s Keep Cyprus. The end of the Fourth’s final operational tour.
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Trade Training, Range Firing, Pre Canada Training, Suffield – the first six months of 1992 were challenging.
Lt Gen Sir Jeremy Blacker, Colonel Commandant and by this time Master General of the Ordnance (MGO) in the Ministry of Defence presents Gulf Medals to some of the 88 members of the Regiment who served there in 1991.
In July 1992 The Regiment went to Suffield for Medicine Man 6, the last battle-group to train there on Chieftain. As we had been the first battle group to train there it seemed rather appropriate. Command Troop at “End Ex”.
The end of an era for 4 RTR, Suffield 1992.
The Regiment returned from Canada and prepared for a final Cambria Day and Roll Call Weekend to which as many as could be were invited.
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L to R: Maj Ian Galloway, Capt Tim Turner, Brig Nick Cocking, Col Mike Rose,
Brig Roger Plowden and Col Frank Freeman.
The Weekend had many memorable components, but few could expunge the spectre of amalgamation.
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Even the weather was overcast!
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Read PDF:
Preparing For The Future |
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Read PDF:
From The Fourth |
A sober and frank assessment of the Fourth by the 2/ic, Maj Viccars.
| The Regiment made a final visit to Arras. | ||
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Lt Col Peter Gilchrist, the CO designate of the amalgamated Regiment, who greatly impressed the Fourth by his sensitive plans for the new Regiment explained during a preliminary visit.
Lt Col Peter Gilchrist was determined that the spirit of the component Regiments would be kept alive, with each Squadron cherishing the history of one of them. Thus in the new 1 RTR the Fourth, the Seventh and the Eighth lived on.
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This would also apply to vehicle names:
The day finally arrived-
1 October 1993.
The Fourth Standard paraded for the last time. SSM McIntyre, RSM Stuart King, RQMS Raymond Liczkowski, SSM Beyborough
The old Regiments’ flags were lowered.
The Regimental Collect was recited:
“Almighty God, whose perfect love casteth out fear, Mercifully grant that thy servants of the Royal Tank Regiment may fear naught but to fall from thy favour, for his sake in whom Thou art well pleased, Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.”
The new flag was raised while the crews mounted.
The new 1st Royal Tank Regiment drove past.
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And it was done.