News of Former Pupils
Old Arnoldian soldier, Officer Cadet Ben Taylor, battled extremes of wind, cold, rain and fatigue when he took on one of the toughest patrolling challenges the world has to offer.
Ben, 20, was part of the Manchester and Salford University Officer Cadet Training Corps (UOTC) team taking part in Exercise Cambrian Patrol. The annual event is a highlight of the British Army's training calendar, and is also viewed internationally as one of the toughest patrolling tests facing the modern soldier.
Talking at the start line, he said: "This is my second Cambrian, I gained a silver medal last year. The challenge itself has brought me back! I think the river crossing will be toughest, but last time will give me the experience to deal with it.
"The weather is bad this time which will make it hard going but we will make it and I hope get another medal, a gold would be nice!"
This year's event attracted more than 90 teams from the British Regular and Territorial Army and Royal Air Force. Also foreign army teams from Canada, Italy, France, The Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary and the Netherlands, plus for the first time India and Pakistan. All were pitting their wits, strength and endurance against some of the toughest terrain on offer in the rugged mountainous Welsh countryside.
Exercise Cambrian Patrol was first staged in 1959 as a long distance marching competition over the Cambrian Mountains of Mid Wales, and has been continuously updated to meet modern day challenges.
Eight man teams have to march a distance of 55 kilometres, 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.
Navigating by day and night and linking up with friendly agents en-route, they face many testing and specialist challenges, including observation and reconnaissance of enemy forces, cold river crossings in full kit without access to boats and defensive shooting under attack.
Teams that successfully completed the exercise were awarded a gold, silver or bronze medal, or certificate of merit, depending on the number of points they have earned throughout their patrol.
Ben attended Arnold School, Blackpool before going to university where he is reading geology. He joined the UOTC two years ago and his parents Ian and Pam live in Longridge.
The Manchester and Salford team successfully completed the patrol and gained another silver award.
Reproduced by kind permission of The Longridge News.
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