News

Afghanistan looms for the Welsh Cavalry

Published

12 years ago

February 6, 2014

SITTING in the back of the army land rover, I am driven through the rough and rugged terrain at the Castlemartin firing range, which is used frequently for training exercises by various regiments of the British army.

Today however we have been invited to observe over a hundred soldiers from the Queens Dragoon Guards as they take part in a 36-hour operation, which consists of various tasks and exercises. The sheer determination and fitness of the soldiers is evident in their energetic and prompt responses to adverse situations, which have been cleverly elaborated and manufactured to recreate the real life scenarios of modern warfare. The regiment are likely to be deployed to Afghanistan sometime in May for possibly 6 months or longer and will be presented with various obstacles and potentially dangerous and hostile situations, so the necessity to prepare them to deal for the unexpected is paramount for them to complete their tasks safely and effectively. All members of the vehicle crews are expected to make decisions on route selection for the vehicle as well as assisting with target acquisition and the decision on whether to fire or not, which is ultimately down to the vehicle commander.

Wooden cutouts with the painted faces of Middle Eastern men have been placed strategically around the range to prepare the frontline soldiers for ambushes, while small explosives, which produce, loud bangs are hidden in the grass verges to recreate the effect of an I.E.D (improvised explosive device). Once the devices are detonated the countless hours of training comes into play as soldiers retaliate with return fire at the wooden cutout targets, panic stricken faces run towards me in an attempt to restore order and bring the situation under control. Live rounds are fired and the scenario seems very real indeed. Captain Rupert Robinson tells The Herald the aims and objectives of the operation:

“The exercise is progressive, initially confirming soldiers’ ability to fire their personal weapons accurately before progressing to more complicated shoots, culminating in more complex scenarios where soldiers in section, troop and squadron-sized groupings undertake live fire ranges with support from mortars and airborne assets.”

Some of those involved will have previous Afghan experience – in 2008, 2009 and 2011/12 –although for some troops this will be the first time they have trained for an operational tour so the experience is invaluable and potentially lifesaving for them with some soldiers having only joined the Army last year.

For Lieutenant Corporal Scott Roystonhalpin from Carmarthen, this will be his second tour of Afghanistan and is all too aware of the dangers that lay ahead.

“I have been trained to an advanced standard as a gunner which leaves me exposed and vulnerable at the top of a battle tank, but I have been trained by the best army in the world so fully comprehend the risks”

He also explains the physicality requirements of a British Soldier serving in Afghanistan

“I lost three stone on my last tour. The conditions are extreme, from 40 degree heat in the day to freezing temperatures at night it certainly takes it’s toll on your body, both physically and mentally”.

Once the range package is complete the QDG will conduct a second exercise in Thetford the following week. The troops will return to home base in Sennelager, Germany, where they will take part in simulated training prior to returning to the UK to carry out other exercises in preparations for a likely operational tour. Left tenant Colonel William Davies reiterates the importance of the British Military presence in Afghanistan

“We are essentially deployed to restore order to the country, one of our objectives for example is to carry on training the Afghan National Army to operate at a brigade level so we can feel comfortable in the knowledge that they can carry on our work once we leave”

The past 50 years have been busy for the Regiment which has seen active service in Borneo, Aden, Lebanon, the 1991 Gulf War, Bosnia, Kosovo, Northern Ireland, the 2003 Iraq War, two further tours of Iraq and, most recently, deployments to Afghanistan in 2008/09 and 2011/12.

QDG was awarded the Freedom of Cardiff in 1985. Hopefully 2014’s tour of Afghan will be a safe and successful tour for the regiment and will allow them to accomplish their tasks and objectives.

Crime

Repeat drug-driver banned for three years after Pembroke stop

Published

6 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Motorist was over legal limits for both cannabis and cocaine metabolite, court hears

A 35-YEAR-OLD Pembrokeshire motorist has been disqualified from driving after being caught behind the wheel while over the legal drug-drive limit.

Police received information on November 11 that David Webb had been driving a Kia Sorento along Buttermilk Lane, Pembroke, after taking drugs.

When stopped by officers, Webb admitted he had smoked cannabis the previous night. A roadside drug swipe tested positive, and subsequent blood analysis at the police station revealed 101 micrograms of benzoylecgonine — a cocaine metabolite — per litre of blood, along with 2.3 micrograms of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The legal limits are 50 and 2 micrograms respectively.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard this was Webb’s second drug-driving conviction, following a previous offence in October 2023.

Webb, of Strongbow Walk, Pembroke, was sentenced to a 12-month Community Order requiring him to complete 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days and 100 hours of unpaid work.

He was disqualified from driving for three years and ordered to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Driver banned after refusing breath test despite admitting drinking

Published

6 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Motorist also damaged police cell blanket after arrest, court hears

A PEMBROKESHIRE motorist has been banned from the roads after repeatedly refusing to provide a breath sample despite admitting he had been drinking alcohol.

Police were called to Glenview Avenue, Pembroke Dock, on the evening of January 3 following a report from a member of the public who was concerned about a man sitting in a car who appeared to be under the influence.

Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court that officers found the man, later identified as Sean Cook, appearing intoxicated while sitting in the vehicle.

“He appeared to be intoxicated and said he was listening to the radio,” she said.

Cook told officers he was not fit to drive because he had consumed alcohol. He was asked on three separate occasions to provide a breath test but refused each time.

The court heard he was obstructive throughout the encounter and refused to answer questions about his alcohol consumption.

Following his arrest, Cook was taken to Haverfordwest Police Station where he damaged a custody cell blanket by pulling out its stitching.

Cook, aged 58, of Glenview House, Glenview Avenue, Pembroke Dock, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis and causing criminal damage.

He was disqualified from driving for 18 months and sentenced to a 12-month Community Order, which includes 10 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days and a 120-day Alcohol Abstinence Monitoring Requirement.

He was also ordered to pay £100 compensation for the damaged blanket, a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Telecom vandal admits causing £33,000 damage to Pembroke Dock network

Published

6 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Fibre cables cut in early-morning incident that triggered major service disruption

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has admitted causing more than £33,000 worth of damage to a telecommunications network after cutting through fibre optic cables in the early hours of the morning.

Mickey Probert, aged 37, was seen lifting a drain cover in Wavell Crescent at around 3.50am on January 23, 2024, before entering an underground chamber and cutting through fibre infrastructure belonging to OGI.

Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court that Probert had accessed a telecom footway chamber and cut through micro ducting and fibre cables.

Suspicions were raised when a nearby resident was woken by loud clanging noises and saw a man acting suspiciously near green utility boxes.

“The witness saw a male bend down in front of the boxes, lift the covers and shine a headtorch towards the ground,” she said.

Following a description provided by the witness, police arrested Probert. A search of his property uncovered wire cutters, a headtorch and a woolly hat.

The total cost of the damage to the OGI network was calculated at £33,767.98.

Defence solicitor Tom Lloyd said his client was unable to explain his actions but was extremely remorseful.

“He has a lot of things going on that haven’t properly been explored,” he told the court.

Probert, currently of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to criminal damage.

Given the seriousness of the offence, District Judge Mark Layton declined jurisdiction, meaning sentencing must take place at a higher court.

Probert will now be sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on March 10. The court requested an all-options probation report ahead of the hearing.