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Commanding Officers Foreword

The final sunset as seen from Sterga 2.

This is the last Blue Hackle from Operations. The majority of the Battalion are now home, with just
D Company left to return; the majority by the end of this month. Everyone performed superbly on
operations and made the most of the opportunities with which they were presented. Some had
more exciting times than others, but all would have felt what it was like to be part of a large multi-
national, cross coalition operation and this will provide them with invaluable experience going
forward for the future. For me, commanding on operations was a huge privilege and I would like to
thank you all for the support you gave me. Please enjoy this Blue Hackle and finally, my thanks to
the editor, Captain Reg Gentry, for all the hard work he has put into this over the last 10 months it
has been a huge success.

Commanding Officer 4 SCOTS: Lt Col J C Roddis MBE

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Thank you to everyone that has made a donation to our Just Giving page this month, with a
whopping 830 being donated! This takes our total so far on Herrick 19 to 4,488.55.

There is still time to donate and help get our total efforts over the 5,000 mark! All money raised
during the Highland Games and other Homecoming events will be put towards the fundraising
effort so please keep giving generously. We will look to close the page at the end of July.

Please keep spreading the word to all your friends and family of the fantastic work the Royal
Regiment of Scotland Association does and how important it is that we continue to help them to
help our Jocks.

Visit our page and donate today!


www.justgiving.com/4SCOTS
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Manoeuvre Battlegroup

The members of the Manoeuvre Battlegroup may be in the final stages of an 8 month tour, but
the pace of operations has certainly not eased. Two Battlegroup sized operation have dominated
the month as we continue to work hard to close US and UK bases outside of Camp Bastion.
The first operation saw the Battlegroup assist the US Marine
Corps and US Army complete the retrograde of their final
bases in Northern Helmand. Protecting in depth of the
Afghan National Security Forces along the major highways in
Helmand, the Battlegroup ensured that the US troops could
safely extract all their kit and equipment in good order. It
was a significant operation, which saw all elements of the
Manoeuvre Battlegroup deploy for a 7 day period; always in
support of the Afghan Brigade who led with a number of
clearances and the protection of key points along the route.

Early May then saw the Battlegroup successfully close the
UKs last remaining forward base to be used by UK troops in
Afghanistan, Observation Post Sterga 2. The closure of
Sterga means that the only UK troops still in Helmand are at
Camp Bastion, which is due to close at the end of the year,
and at locations in Kandahar and Kabul.



The 70 vehicle convoy leaves Sterga 2 en route back to Bastion.
4 SCOTS Mortars helped protect
Sterga until the final minutes.
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With 100 ISO containers of kit and equipment having been extracted over the weeks prior, a final
Combat Logistics Patrol (CLP), led by Delta Company, drove the final pieces of kit and 4 SCOTS
Recce Platoon safely back to
Bastion on 10 May 14. With
241 soldiers and 70 vehicles in
the convoy, it was the second
largest UK convoy seen during
Herrick 19; only beaten by the
battlegroups final convoy out of
Lashkar Gah Durai.

Defence Secretary Philip
Hammond, who was in
Afghanistan to mark the latest
milestone in the drawdown of
UK forces, spoke to the jocks
from 4 SCOTS Recce Platoon
who had been living and
working at Sterga since
September last year.


Sterga opened in August 2013 to enable UK
personnel to observe a large and strategically
important area of central Helmand. Troops based
there provided vital assistance in covering UK and US
base closures and gave Afghan and coalition
personnel a fuller understanding of insurgent activity.

Most of the personnel based at Sterga were from the
4 SCOTS Recce Platoon, with specialist capabilities
provided by other units such as 5 Regiment Royal
Artillery, 32 Regiment Royal Artillery, 3 Royal Horse
Artillery and 14 Signals Regiment. At its peak the
base was home to 180 people although by its closure
this had reduced to about 90 personnel.

Sterga 2 was a desert leaguer behind Hesco for the final week.
This was the 1
st
, and only, time MAMBA has been airlifted
during the Herrick Campaign.
Captain Gentry getting some face time
with the Secretary of State.
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4 SCOTS Recce Platoon grab a final team photo before leaving Sterga 2.

When asked for his take on the closure, Lt Col
James Roddis said: "Providing a secure
environment for the redeployment of a base is vital
to ensure the safety and protection of our
personnel and equipment. The soldiers of the
cross-coalition multi cap-badged Manoeuvre
Battle Group, led by 4 SCOTS, have once again
shown their ability and competence in making sure
the personnel and equipment from Sterga
could return safely back to Camp Bastion.
Alongside our coalition partners we also
oversaw and provided security for the closure
of Laskhar Gah Durai and FOB Price in
March earlier this year. As the last Scottish
Infantry Battalion in Afghanistan it has been a
challenging and rewarding job being part of
Cpl McKenzie just before closing the gates
of Sterga for the last time.
CSgt Campbell checks he can account for
every last item of equipment before leaving
Sterga.
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the drawdown of British Bases in
Helmand and the handover of lead
security responsibilities to the Afghan
Security Forces."

Meanwhile, the officer commanding
the small force at Sterga, Captain
Edward Challis, was giving his take
on events to the worlds media.
Highlights to his interview include:

Captain Challis, looking deeply
tanned, said the "sun is our worst
enemy". He has masterminded the
operation to wind the base down,
right until the final week. By that
point, the men under his command were sleeping on the ground with little more than a poncho for
protection, and bottled water to wash in. With only one generator, officially they had just one kettle
for 80 men - although some of the soldiers admitted to having a secret kettle for a brew of tea.

Captain Challis was
robust about the
challenges, saying:
"We were living in a
very comfortable
manor, in my opinion,
up to now." He said
that at the end what
they were doing took
them back to skills
learnt in basic training.
They were very busy
and he did not have
time to reflect on what
it meant to command
troops in the last
British outpost in
Helmand, he said "Once we have got our feet
up, beer in hand, we will look back and think,
'Well, that was pretty special,'" he says. "But
as it currently stands we are focused on the
task in hand."
Jocks leaving Sterga 2 on the final flight.
The USMC helicopters lent a hand in flying out the larger bits of kit.
CSgt Campbell and Cpl McKenzie close the
gates of Sterga 2 as British forces leave
(Right).
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Highlanders Homeward Bound After Afghan Service

Troops from the 4th Battalion the Royal Regiment of
Scotland (4 SCOTS), known as The Highlanders, handed
over command of the multi-national Manoeuvre
Battlegroup to 5 RIFLES in Camp Bastion in Helmand
Province on Friday 30 May.

Working with 3rd Battalion the Mercian Regiment (Staffords), 9th/12th Royal Lancers and 2nd
Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment, as well as longstanding Estonian and Danish allies, the
Battlegroup supported the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) when required and protected
coalition operations.

The Highlanders are
the final Scottish
battalion to have
served in a combat
role in Afghanistan.
As the lead element
of the Battlegroup
they were responsible
for the transfer of
Main Operating Base
(MOB) Price and
Forward Operating
Base (FOB) Lashkar
Gah Durai, as well as
the closure of the
UKs final base
outside of Camp
Bastion, Observation
Post Sterga 2.
LCpl Mackay pipes up the RIFLES flag (left) while 4
SCOTS transfer command of the Battlegroup to 5
RIFLES (above).
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Delta Company, The Clan

Delta Company have been 'on point' for much of the last 4 weeks. The two big operations have
been to support the closure of the final US bases in Northern Helmand and the closure of OP
Sterga 2.

At the start of May, Delta
Company deployed back to the
area of Lashkar Gah Durai. We
based ourselves out of a brand
new barracks which had just been
built for the Afghan National
Security Forces. We arrived the
day before it was due to be
handed over and had the surreal
experience of talking to the
Managing Director of the
construction Company in New
York to assure him that we were
not going to ruin his project before
the handover paperwork was
signed! It was an excellent
location to dominate the road. We
were helped by one of our large, white, inflatable balloons which we put up - the Insurgents were
convinced that we had come back to the area to stay!
Patrolling through some of the remaining wheat fields in Central Helmand this month.
The ANSF providing security along the major routes in
Helmand.
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The following week we led the final run into STERGA 2, escorting a mixed British and US convoy
to extract the final equipment from the base. It was a pleasure to be part of the operation to close
down STERGA and bring the Recce Platoon back to Bastion.
Since then we have been back out dominating areas which are a threat to Bastion. Perhaps the
most memorable night was when we were hit by some extreme weather - for 4 hours the Company
were hunkered down in their wagons as a 'Mummy-esque' Sand Storm swept through the Dashte!
When not out on operations, the company has made use of the fantastic training facilities available
in Camp Bastion. With numerous compounds and kalays, the options for realistic training
scenarios are endless. To add to the experience, all this training can be done with Simunition
Army issued paintballs! The jocks, therefore, not only improve and refresh their tactics and
procedures, but they do so while firing paintballs at the targets.
A large dust storm rapidly heads towards the companys leaguer location.
Simunition ranges are a great training opportunity in Camp Bastion.
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There have been a few changes in Delta Company
over the last month. Highlanders Campbell-Brown
and McGurk have recently arrived, just in time for
the last month of the tour. Meanwhile, Lance
Corporal Richardson has returned home to get
married; and Highlanders Matthews & Lavelle have
returned to attend a JNCO cadre. Good luck from
The Clan!
Delta Company conducting dismounted patrols to engage with local nationals.
The River Helmand is in full flow to create the
well-known Green Zone (Left) and members of
14 Platoon ready to deploy with warriors from the
Afghan National Army (Above).
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Task Force Belleau Wood Force Protection Company
Distinguished military service members within
Regional Command (Southwest) and International
Security Assistance Force including Lt. Gen. John
Lorimer, deputy commander of ISAF, attended a
farewell ceremony and witnessed the lowering of the
Kingdom of Tonga flag, aboard Camps Bastion and
Leatherneck, Afghanistan, April 28.

During a morning ceremony aboard Camp Bastion,
each Royal Tongan Marine was awarded medals for
their devoted service to the coalitions efforts.
Afterward, the Royal Tongan Marines lowered their
flag aboard Camp Leatherneck to symbolise the end
of the countrys participation in support of combat
operations in Helmand province and return to their
homeland.

I feel my men have done a very good job here
along with our training in the United Kingdom before
we deployed, said Royal Tongan Marine Lt. Col.
Cyle Tuevai, the national contingent commander
with Her Majesties Armed Forces.


Major Law and the Company took over from the Togans on the perimeter of Camp Bastion.
Even the Tongans like LCpl Mackays
bagpipes.
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During the short morning
ceremony, the Royal Tongan
Marines sang their national
anthem, a song written and
composed by one of their own
lance corporals, and performed
the Sipi Tau, the traditional
Tongan war dance.

You have repeatedly
demonstrated courage and
capability, said Lt. Gen.
Lorimer, as he addressed the
Royal Tongan Marines. You
should be justifiably proud of
the important role you have
delivered here on Camp
Bastion, protecting thousands
of military and civilian
personnel.
The Tongan troops served with the Camp Bastion Force Protection Wing where they helped guard
the base perimeter as well as man the entry control points. Their posts have now been filled by
members of 4 SCOTS, bolstering the already existing FP Platoon to form a Company. Many of the
jocks are returning to Helmand having also completed exercises in Jordan earlier this year.




The jocks also conduct patrols outside of the perimeter.
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Hectors

From March to June it has been a busy period for us all. The end of the tour is nearly in sight and
our wives have been anticipating the return of their men. Sgt Frame organised various activities to
keep the families and children
entertained over this period. These
included trips to Mellendorf Soft Play
area and Wild Park, where families
where able to relax and enjoy a nice
day out where their kids could play and
use up their energy. This was apparent
at Mellendorf where the kids played for
hours on the soft play areas, giving
some of the mums a well-deserved
break.

We also, with the help of one of the
wives, had a lovely Sunday lunch that
was followed by a Muppets movie in the
cinema; something that was enjoyed by
kids of all ages.

As we got into May we had a few trips over
the Easter school holidays. We thought we
had the weather with us, but on our trip to
the Serengetti Park it turned out not to be
and it rained for the whole day. This didnt
dampen the spirits of those who went, as
they all made the most out of the park and
had a really good day out doing the safari
and then enjoying the parks facilities.

On our trip to Magic Park the weather was
good to us. As a result it made a good day
even better, allowing us to enjoy all the rides
and play areas in the park to the fullest.
Everyone enjoyed the Sunday lunch.
Making new friends.
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On 4-6 June, we had some Scottish
Superstars (The Singing Kettle) over to
entertain the children of Fallingbostel with 3
shows at Shackleton Primary School. This
wouldnt have happened if it wasnt for the
hard work of Fran Colquhoun and the staff of
both Heide and Shackleton Schools. The
Singing Kettle even put a show on for the
adults, with an excellent ceilidh, which was
held in Hectors.

With the good weather starting to arrive in
Germany, Hectors hosted a families BBQ,
which was to welcome most of the soldiers
back from Afghanistan and a chance for all
the mothers to bid farewell to Mrs Helen Roddis for all her hard work with Jennifer Bailey in
making Teenie Tots a massive success.

Weve now seen the majority of our soldiers
return from tour. We are all now getting
ready for the Medals parade and forthcoming
parades in Scotland, not to mention the
festivities of the Highland Games and the
Beating of the Retreat.

Please spare a thought for the boys out in the heat,
whether it be out in Afghan or out on the Parade
Square getting drilled by the RSM.
Families enjoying a great day out.
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4 SCOTS in the Media

The press has been dominated this month by the Manoeuvre Battlegroups operation to close
the final UK base outside of Camp Bastion in Central Helmand, STERGA 2. Unsurprisingly it
has been reported far and wide, with some of the major news broadcasters coverage linked
below.

BBC News, ITV News, BFBS News, Daily Mail, Evening Telegraph,
Shropshire Star, Jersey Evening Post

The Highlanders have been receiving a large amount of coverage this month on the UK Forces in
Afghanistans Facebook page. Run by the Combat Camera Team here in Helmand, members of 4
SCOTS have been the Photograph of the day at least twice each week. Like the page so you
dont miss out!

UK Forces in Afghanistan Facebook Page

A highly popular individual in the media this month is LCpl Hugh Mackay and his bagpipes.
Seizing every opportunity to play, his efforts have not gone unnoticed with numerous videos and
photographs of him playing being posted on the internet. One of the most popular is the one linked
below, which sees him playing at the Transfer of Authority (TOA) ceremony between 4 SCOTS and
5 RIFLES, as the sun set over Afghanistan.

Lance Corporal Mackay piping in the Afghanistan sunset

















To keep fully up to date with all thats happening in theatre follow us on Hectors Welfare
Facebook page, The Royal Regiment of Scotland Facebook page and the 4 SCOTS
JustGiving site.


All links must be accessed through open source internet. They will not work on Dii, RLI or MS.
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Other Photographs This Month
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