Condor Troop
The Squadron required another Troop, to serve with 45 Commando Royal Marines in Arbroath.
Captain Hillard with Staff Sergeant Pickles, were given the task to form up this extra troop, with most of the lads from BAOR (Germany). They had the pick of those coming into Cdo training.
Condor Troop was formed up from mostly "bad" boys, unlike 'The Dirty Dozen' film WW2, this would become the Dirty three Dozen, with 38 Troop members in total.
The Captain was ex-SAS, the Staff Sergeant was a hard task master but fair with it.
Having selected the Troop, it had a short while to get into operation, with refresher training and exercises.
During May 1971, the Squadron CO - John Grosvenor, paid a visit to Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Condor, to view the accommodation for his first Commando Troop.
Over Dinner, Lt Col Sir Stuart Pringle RM, discussed the attachment of the first Engineer Commando Troop, to 45 Commando Group (Army Troops).
At this time, 45 Commando Group, was an Independent Commando Group.
The Colonel was concerned that the attached Groups were starting to detract from the Scottish base, via the use of ‘numbered’ troops, such as 29 Artillery.
John Grosvenor then assured the Colonel, that his Troop would become a ‘Scottish’ Troop by naming the troop after the Base.
Hence the Troop took the name of the Marines Base (RNAS) - ‘Condor‘.
During May 1971, the Squadron CO - John Grosvenor, paid a visit to Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Condor, to view the accommodation for his first Commando Troop.
Over Dinner, Lt Col Sir Stuart Pringle RM, discussed the attachment of the first Engineer Commando Troop, to 45 Commando Group (Army Troops).
At this time, 45 Commando Group, was an Independent Commando Group.
The Colonel was concerned that the attached Groups were starting to detract from the Scottish base, via the use of ‘numbered’ troops, such as 29 Artillery.
John Grosvenor then assured the Colonel, that his Troop would become a ‘Scottish’ Troop by naming the troop after the Base.
Hence the Troop took the name of the Marines Base (RNAS) - ‘Condor‘.
Condor Troop RE
45 Commando Group RM
RNAS Condor
Arbroath
Angus
Scotland
Around 20th Sept
Advance Party from Condor Troop, consisting of:
Staff Sergeant Pickles
Sergeant Gray
Corporal Evans
The advance party arrived in Arbroath, to prepare the way
for the Troop arriving.
Condor Troop packed their two 3 ton vehicles with
operating kit and personnel, then started toward Scotland, with Sergeant
Patrick in command of the convoy.
A very long drive ahead, stopping overnight around Penrith, at a TA Camp.
Despite the coldness in the back of the 3 ton vehicles,
our moral was high, we were heading for our permanent base, with 45 Commando
Group…..beware the Marines, Condor Troop is coming !!
The Troop OC Captain Hillard, made his own way to RNAS Condor.
It was the first Commando Engineer Troop to form up, it is
the only Independent Commando Engineer Troop, it is attached to an Independent
Commando Group and it is based in Scotland.
Condor Troop was formed by volunteers from normal units and
not solely drawn from 59 Squadron, as one would expect.
The Troop had three married men, the Troop Officer -
Captain Hillard, a Sergeant - Sergeant Gray and a Corporal - , the rest were single, all the Troop members
were around 20 - 22 years old, with exception to those with Rank.
Never in history, had a Troop dealt with its own Part Orders, Punishment and much more, Condor had to being so far from the Squadron base and Permanently based in Arbroath.
Leaving the TA Camp, a shorter drive via Gretna Green and Dundee to Arbroath.
Off load the vehicles and claim a bed in the Accommodation Block - a wooden Spider Block.
The Troop was given a long week-end off.
The Troop Fitter (Sapper Ray Elliott) used this week-end to become Engaged to his Girlfriend in Blantyre - 100 miles away.
Two weeks later, the Troop heard "Clear decks" over the camp tannoys, not knowing what it meant, the troop carried on settling in.
Our Troop Officer was summoned to attend the CO meeting (Clear decks), he was warning his Group that they were to move to N. Ireland within days.
Having just arrived, with bare minimal kit, the CO expressed his feelings that Condor Troop should stay behind. The OC was having none of that, stating to the CO "If Condor Troop does not move with you, it will remain under command of the Squadron, we must move as part of your Cdo Group".
45 Cdo RM issued our troop with weapons (on loan), plus vehicles and any kit we required.
The troop OC then contacted the Squadron, to warn them of the move and to send Operating kit and weapons to Northern Ireland - Antrim Base.
Condor Troop moved out with 45 Cdo RM Group, as an embedded Unit within the Group and remained that way until 1987.
5th November 1971
Two weeks later, the Troop heard "Clear decks" over the camp tannoys, not knowing what it meant, the troop carried on settling in.
Our Troop Officer was summoned to attend the CO meeting (Clear decks), he was warning his Group that they were to move to N. Ireland within days.
Having just arrived, with bare minimal kit, the CO expressed his feelings that Condor Troop should stay behind. The OC was having none of that, stating to the CO "If Condor Troop does not move with you, it will remain under command of the Squadron, we must move as part of your Cdo Group".
45 Cdo RM issued our troop with weapons (on loan), plus vehicles and any kit we required.
The troop OC then contacted the Squadron, to warn them of the move and to send Operating kit and weapons to Northern Ireland - Antrim Base.
Condor Troop moved out with 45 Cdo RM Group, as an embedded Unit within the Group and remained that way until 1987.
5th November 1971
Condor Troop boarded HMS Albion, off Rosyth Docks and sailed to N. Ireland.
The Marines turned into Bessbrook Barracks, whilst our convoy and protection team, moved onto Antrim Base.
Antrim was a jumbled collection of huts and caravans, occupied by 9 Para Engineers RE.
The troop arrived as a fledgling troop, having never worked alongside each other, not knowing our strengths and weaknesses, having had no time to 'work up to strength', with part of the troop away on courses. This was to change in just over a month.
9 Para had been together for years and promptly antagonised our troop with 'cutting quirks', which often came to a fighting end, which being 'rough' characters from Germany bases, we handled easily and started to gain some respect from 9 Para.
The Troop Captain and Staff Sergeant 'pushed' for all the dangerous jobs that 9 Para turned down, it would be good for the troop and help to 'bond' us.
From building Sangers - observation platforms, to putting barbed wire around Electricity Plants and putting up bomb fences (16 ft high) around schools, we started to build our own base.
9 Para left and another Engineer Unit moved in, this was a normal Engineer Unit, so they were highly wary of our Commando Troop, who covered all this dangerous work.
Condor Troop quickly 'bonded' into a well working unit, learning our strengths and weaknesses, whilst becoming a fighting unit, doing Patrols in the danger zones.
The troop returned home in time for Christmas, un-packed our newly formed kit, plus some we had acquired. Re-packed our vehicles ready for Norway.
6th February 1972 - 14th
March 1972
Norway
59 Ind Cdo Sqn RE
Exercise Hardfall (A)
BFPO 592
6th
February
Board HMS Albion at Ardrossan,
at 18.00 hrs.
8th
Feb
Arrive Bergen at 03.00 hrs
Arrive Voss at 17.00 hrs
(Bomoen Camp)
Situated in the heart of fjord
country and surrounded by glaciers and mountains, Voss is well known for its
unspoilt beauty. Skiing is a traditional part of life for the locals with
everything from downhill slalom, telemark and snowboarding to cross-country
skiing. Well known in the world of competition skiing, Voss has hosted many
World Cup events. It is an excellent choice for families and it also attracts
the more active skier who enjoys off-piste and no lift queues.
The Mount Hangur cable car
rises 600m to the slopes in just 4 minutes and enables beginners to ride in
comfort to the nursery slopes on the scenic plateau at the top. The
exceptionally friendly ski school instructors speak excellent English and the
group tuition offered will ensure you quickly progress.
When Condor Troop arrived at the Norwegian camp, we found 3 Troop were there, most still had not passed the Commando Course.
Weather was good, minus 20C, but it could have been plus 20C, we worked hard to learn how to ski, taking control of Langluff skis is a nightmare, designed to walk across country, up-hill and downhill, the skis were "loose" fitting, to permit turning and crossing un-even ground. The only way to learn was simple, go for it, fall over, get up and go for it again and again.
Within a week of this fun, staying upright became easier, so time to advance forwards, to wearing a Bergen and rifle.
The Royal Scots Battalion arrived.
21st Feb
3 Tonner crashed with 19 lads on board, Pete Davey driving.
26th
Feb
9 Kilometre Ski Race.Skiing with Packs and sledges, plus weapons became paramount. Learning to Survive in extreme weather, required us to learn how to build shelters, snow-holes were the favourite, easy and quick to build. We were shown how to build an Igloo. We still used 10 man tents for now.
By halfway through this tour, it was time for some real concerted skiing, towing paulks with safety gear, extra rations and stoves. Crossing the Hardanger Plateau was the goal. Having never done anything like this before and seeing what we had to do, was rather intimidating. The fun was the paulks, they had a mind of their own. One man would ski forwards towing it, if it was steep, others could tie onto the paulk, the same for going downhill, or across un-even ground, skiers could tie up to the sides or rear, or both.
Along the route, it was decided to extend two ropes from the back of the snow tracs, for skiers to hang onto, thus covering ground quicker, with more fun as lads fell over, or hit rocks and went flying.
The magic Northern Lights came out each evening, so beautiful to lie down and watch.
27th Feb
Shopping in Bergen - 300 miles away.
28th Feb
Troop Depletion:
12 lads injured - 6 unable to work
Lt Hoddinoch injured - unable to work
3 Tonner badly damaged
5 Snowtracs un-serviceable
1st
& 2nd March
Downhill Skiing in Oslo.
3rd
& 4th March
Shopping in Mjofell.
5th
to 10th March
Final Troop exercise - 50 mile
yomp in the mountains.
13th
March
10 Kilometre Ski Race.14th March
Civilian Ferry home - Bergen to Newcastle - drivers only.
15th
March
Rest of the Troop flew home
and Coach to the base.Condor Troop had been tested under fire and now in up to minus 38C, we were now a fully 'bonded' troop, capable of working closely together, putting up with major adversity and working smoothly.
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