An overseas training exercise for the Royal Bermuda Regiment sharpened soldiers’ practical skills while deepening overseas links.

Exercise Active Shield 26, which ended last week, sent more than 100 soldiers to practise weapons use and urban operations at Catterick Garrison in Yorkshire in England.

The regiment worked with The Royal Lancers of the British Army, who served as experienced teachers at the purpose-built garrison.

Lieutenant-Colonel Duncan Simons, the RBR’s Commanding Officer, said the exercise signified a “significant collective effort by personnel at all levels of the regiment”.

He added: “It serves as a reminder that we improve through experience — by making new mistakes, relearning hard-won lessons and refining our skills.

“Training shoulder to shoulder with our partners and with each other ensures that, should we ever be called to mobilise, we are prepared and ready.”

The garrison trip took place after they began training at Lydd Camp in Kent.

Their exercises at the camp, which is one of the UK’s top urban training sites, focused on public control manoeuvres.

Members of The Royal Lancers jumped between acting as part of an unruly mob in civil disturbance exercises and coaching RBR soldiers during their weapons lessons on ranges.

Colonel Simons called the annual camp the “focal point of the training year” and a “primary opportunity for collective training”.

He added: “During my tenure as Commanding Officer, I have sought to strengthen ties with countries with which the regiment has longstanding connections.

“Last year, we trained in Jamaica for the first time in nine years and this year we returned to the United Kingdom for the first time since 2019.”

The Commanding Officer said the exercise also helped to maintain ties with the UK Ministry of Defence.

He explained that the presence of The Royal Lancers and British Defence Staff United States helped with this, as they served to resource the camp and build talks between the RBR and the UK Ministry of Defence.

Captain Nick Bennett, the Second-in-Command of The Royal Lancers’ A Squadron, said the experience was overall very enjoyable.

He said: “From the start, all of the regiment’s training team and support team were great at co-operating with us to get the training off the ground and since they came over to the UK it’s been great getting to know them all.

“The soldiers all entered quite difficult training with such cheerful spirits.

“Despite the intensity of the exercise, there was always a good sense of camaraderie and humour.”

Captain Bennett added that the soldiers’ skills visibly improved between the first day and the fourth — something he said was noticed by other Lancers.

He said: “Towards the end, their drills were so slick and we had no chance as a rioting civilian population to exploit the opportunities which we could on day one and early on day two.”

Private Shi-Shun Burgess, 25, who had been in the RBR for five years, enjoyed the friendships built through the exercise.

The hospitality front desk agent from Sandys said: “I feel like we grew a lot closer because we went through so many hard times.

“It created opportunities to bond. We had fun learning about each other.”

He added: “The opportunities for travel provided by the regiment are amazing.

“Taking part in this training meant that we flew to England. It’s nice to be able to see different parts of the world.”

The overseas exercise culminated in a meeting between Andrew Murdoch, the Governor, and Al Carns, the UK Minister for the Armed Forces.

The RBR also met with the Duchess of Gloucester for the first time in Lydd since 2007.