A soldier from New Malden has completed one of the toughest training challenges the Army has to offer.
Lance Corporal George Flower, 26, was part of an eight-man team from 1st Battalion Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment taking part in the annual Cambrian Patrol in September – regarded as one of the most prestigious patrolling tests facing the modern soldier.
Eight-man teams toured a distance of 50km, carrying full personal kit and additional equipment weighing up to 60lbs, on a two-day patrolling mission within a realistic scenario against advancing enemy patrols.
Speaking at the start of the event in Tynbedw, mid-Wales, Lance Corporal Flower said a sense of competition within the regiment would spur his team on to complete the course.
“There are a few people in our regiment who have done Cambrian Patrol before, including the commanding officer, who previously got silver.”
“We’ll be trying to better that because it will give us a lot of pride and acknowledgement and ideally we’d like gold.
“But, overall, we’ll be happy just to finish because we know how tough it is – carrying so much weight, all the tabbing, river crossing and other challenges.”
Lance Corporal Flower, a former Beverley High School pupil, joined the Army in 2005 and has twice toured Iraq.
This year’s event featured a total of 65 teams which took part from countries as far afield as New Zealand, Canada, Morocco and Pakistan.
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