Soldiers First – The Gordons Cup 2025

As dawn approached on Saturday 4 October, the Dorset countryside was alive to the sounds of storm Amy and the swirl of bagpipes.  At 07:14 a klaxon sounded, and twenty-six teams ran off from the start of Exercise Gordon’s Cup 25.  For the next eleven hours, 270 participants from 11 Signal Regiment, REME, Germany and France undertook a wide variety of military skills tests.

The Master was welcomed by the CO and his leadership team.  After an initial briefing and the now tradition open air lunch, there followed an afternoon stroll of around 7 miles to observe the teams tackling their tasks.

During the next few hours the teams were observed while being tested on their ability to undertake a section attack, patrol and question people in an operational environment, and deal with a serious accident while controlling an uncooperative crowd – a scenario made even more lifelike thanks to the volunteer amputees.

More traditional skills were tested on the stretcher run (a 5k run with a body on a stretcher and other team members carrying heavy equipment), the bayonet course and, finally, the indoor range.  The latter providing the opportunity to observe the technical equipment which provides detailed feedback to the range warden, not just of the results but also a wide range of data on how the weapons are being handled during the tests.  All of which, during training, provides invaluable insights to improve marksmanship across the trainees.

The afternoon ended with the Master awarding the WCIT Cup for the best shot to 2 Squadron, 2 Section, Beaufighter Troop, before saying a few words of congratulations to assembled regiment and visitors.

The Master’s day concluded as a guest of the Germany team at their evening Barbeque.

While congratulations go to the German Team for winning the International Competition, the sweep of the remaining silverware will dispel any doubt that the Royal Signals may be technical experts, but they will always be soldiers first.