The anticipated call of ‘Endex’, marking the end of a military exercise, had an added attraction for the Reservist soldiers of 4th Battalion, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (4PWRR) on their last training weekend of 2024. It was their cue to swap helmets for party hats as they looked forward to their festive culinary treat.
Soldiers charge through the covering smoke whilst storming a building during the urban training exercise at Longmoor Camp’s purpose built training village.
The Commanding Officer of 4PWRR, Lieutenant Colonel Andy Carré serves Private Simon Ferrier-May (R) and Private Julian Montoya (L) with Private Lucas Hill (far left).
Christmas lunches, created by Sergeant Donald Hannah and his team, appear on the hotplate are collected from the hot plate by the officers and senior ranks to be served to the junior ranks.
Soldiers of 4PWRR about to clear the upstairs of an enemy occupied building during their urban training exercise at Longmoor Camp’s purpose built training village.
Army Reservists from the 4PWRR enjoyed a festive treat as they sat down to a full Christmas lunch with all the trimmings following the end of their final training weekend of 2024.
A Reservist of 4PWRR takes up his position to observe the lay of the land during the urban training exercise at Longmoor Camp’s purpose built training village.
(L to R) Corporal Russell Burler, Lance Corporal Alistair Bridges and Corporal Geoffrey sing out a carols ahead of tucking into their Christmas lunch.
A casualty extraction is simulated by soldiers of 4PWRR at Longmoor Camp’s urban training village.
Corporal Elize Bailly (L), a medic serving with 4PWRR, tries on her new festive headdress carefully adjusted by Lance Corporal George Young.
As part of its long and proud history, the PWRR spent 21 years on active service in India back in the 1800s. In recognition of this, King George IV granted the wearing of the Royal Bengal Tiger insignia. Since then the regiment has been known as ‘The Tigers’.
It has been another busy year for the soldiers in the 4th Battalion PWRR and as ever they have risen to the challenge. Christmas provides the ideal time to reflect on what we have done, but also to look forward to a good break and to pick up the challenge for 2025.
The British Army, along with the other armed services, enjoys Christmas as much as everyone else. Yet for many serving personnel it is a time of separation. Over the years many customs and traditions have evolved to allow those on duty over Christmas to enjoy this time of year.
Along with the more modern fun runs, fancy dress parades and other light-hearted antics, a few age-old seasonal customs continue. These include soldiers waking on Christmas morning with a serving of gunfire – a cup of black tea with a shot of rum.
Another tradition dating back to before the First World War was enjoyed by 4PWRR troops as the officers and seniors served the junior ranks their Christmas lunch.
It has been a full-on year for 4PWRR. Back in the summer, they marched through Guildford to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. More recently, they have had a change to their duties, whilst continuing as the sole Army Reservist infantry battalion within 11 Brigade, their higher formation.
Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Andy Carrè said:
“It has been another busy year for the soldiers in the 4th Battalion PWRR and as ever they have risen to the challenge. Christmas provides the ideal time to reflect on what we have done, but also to look forward to a good break and to pick up the challenge for 2025.”
The final date in the training calendar saw the soldiers carrying out urban operations in a purpose-built facility. The demanding and complex scenarios included forced entries into buildings and room clearance drills using blank firing weapons and simulated battle explosions.
This has been a great occasion to cook for. We don’t often get the chance to produce meals of this calibre so when the opportunities come in that’s why I say yes. It really helps the juniors on with their skill set and it's a chance for them to enjoy the limelight. It’s more for them, but I do have a passion for cooking – so it’s a little bit for me as well.
Once the final building had been stormed and secured, the smoke had settled and the whistle blown, the troops relaxed as their attention turned to the festivities that lay ahead.
Back in the kitchen of their base at the Army Reserves Centre in Farnham, Sergeant Donald Hannah, the catering manager from the Irish Guards, specially drafted in for the occasion, was busy putting the final touches to their Christmas lunch.
Sergeant Hannah said:
“This has been a great occasion to cook for. We don’t often get the chance to produce meals of this calibre so when the opportunities come in that’s why I say yes. It really helps the juniors on with their skill set and it's a chance for them to enjoy the limelight. It’s more for them, but I do have a passion for cooking – so it’s a little bit for me as well.”
So, with another demanding year behind them, the soldiers from the 4th Battalion Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment sat back and soaked up some Christmas cheer as the officers and senior ranks served up 120 three-course meals.