As the Army’s only Reserve Ari Defence Regiment, 106th (Yeomanry) Regiment Royal Artillery exists to deliver Close Support Air Defence augmentees to Defence in order to reinforce success on standing commitments and contingency operations.
Last winter was the period when 30 Battery, 16th Regiment Royal Artillery were tasked to deploy operationally to both the Falkland Islands and Poland simultaneously. The Battery was required to provide Ground Based Air Defence in both Areas of Responsibility; approximately 14,000km apart. To achieve this, an uplift of personnel from across the Field Army was required, and soldiers from 106th (Yeomanry) Regiment Royal Artillery volunteered to mobilise for the deployment.
LBdr Knight, 265 Battery would be the first 106 (Y) Regiment Army Reservist to step up to this tasking, away from his civilian life and Army Reservist role as a light role Air Defence Operator. LBdr Knight arrived at Thorney Island in late spring to immediately begin re-training on the SKY SABRE Medium Range Air Defence (MRAD) capability. Alongside visits to the Mission Ready Training Centre (MRTC) to mobilise, he completed the NLC Operator and Detachment Commanders course and finally the Crane Attached Lorry Mounted (CALM) course, allowing him to operate the hydraulic crane to assist the crew with the reloading of equipment. LBdr Knight later deployed to Tregantle Fort in Devon (UK) to conduct Mission Specific Training and finally deployed to the Falkland Islands.
LBdr Knight arrived in the Falkland Islands and was pleasantly surprised with the warmer weather. As the Falklands was about to enter the summer, those in Poland were preparing for the snow. He quickly became familiar with his new role as an NLC Detachment Commander at Mount Pleasant Complex, but also actively sought the fantastic opportunities available on the island. The Battery visited the penguins in their natural habitat on Berthas beach, the famous Port Stanley, and conducted numerous battlefield studies of the 1982 conflict including San Carlos bay, Goose Green, Mount Longdon and Wireless Ridge.
After a hugely successful 6-month deployment to the Falkland Islands, LBdr Knight returned to the UK in mid-2024. After a period of de-mobilisation and a brief respite with his peers, he began the transition back into his normal civilian life.
