Soldier completes 31-mile challenge

UNDER orders . . . Royton soldier Mark Lees takes part in an Army challenge in tough terrain in Wales

WHEN the going gets tough, Royton soldier Mark Lees certainly gets going.

The 22-year-old Lance Corporal from The King’s Royal Hussars took part in Exercise Cambrian Patrol — one of the most gruelling challenges the Army has to offer.

Lance Corporal Lees, a former North Chadderton School pupil who has completed a tour of Iraq, said: “I know taking part in Cambrian Patrol is one of the hardest things you can do.

“People come from all around the world just to have a crack at it and we were one of the newest KRH teams to take part.

“Sleep deprivation is obviously going to be one of the factors affecting you but you just have to keep going. We were determined to finish.”

The annual event is the highlight of the British Army’s training calendar and is regarded as one of the most prestigious patrolling tests.

The challenge, which started in Tynbedw, Mid-Wales, attracted 65 British Regular and Territorial Army and foreign teams from as far afield as Italy, Spain, Morocco, Holland and Canada.

The teams pitted their wits, strength and endurance against tough terrain in the rugged mountainous Welsh countryside.

Eight-man teams face a 31-mile trek carrying a 60lbs kit 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 challenges including observation and reconnaissance of enemy forces, cold river crossings in full kit without access to boats and defensive shooting under attack.

Teams were also assessed on infiltration of enemy positions and simulated nuclear, biological and chemical attacks on the Army’s Sennybridge ranges, north of Brecon.

Exercise Cambrian Patrol was first staged in 1959 as a long distance marching competition over the mountains of Mid-Wales and the event has been updated every year to meet modern-day challenges.