1988 1989 1st Bn Irish Guards. North Belize Battle group

No 2 Company, Holdfast Camp.

Key roles.

Purpose of the deployment: To strengthen and support the Belize Defence Force. To continue the defense of the country from the continuing territorial threat of Guatemala.

Holdfast camp located in the Cayo district close to the town of San Ignacio and only a few miles from the border had a strong mix of defensive capabilities, one rifle company, one section from Milan platoon, one section of signalers, one battery of 105mm Light Guns Royal Artillery, one troop of CVRT Scorpions The Life Guards. Plus other support elements from various regiments.

It started with a grueling, knackering nightmare of a two week jungle school. I am sure it rained continuously for two weeks. The school was designed to prepare us for the worst possible living and operating conditions we could expect whilst serving in the jungle. Basically designed to demonstrate the fact that its probably going to be the most unforgiving environment we would ever have to live and operate in. Add on top of that the possibility of a conflict, and that's why Jungle school was as tough as it was. Good for soul.

Patrols could last up to eight day at a time. The purpose of a patrol could vary from maintaining helicopter LZ�s or up dating maps through to gathering intelligence and tracking various targets including gun runners, or guerillas etc.

RAF Pumas inserted us into the jungle quickly. A superb experience for a 18 year old lad. Contour flying over the jungle canopy. I never forget what a fantastic sight a Puma was after a long, hard slog through the jungle, constantly wet, raining day and night.

Kneeling next to the LZ, rain pounding through the trees, you soon here the buffer of the down draft in the distance. Smoke is thrown and then its back to holdfast, dry clothes and tasty scran. A few days around camp on fatigues then it was back out again on another patrol with a different task. This is how it was. If you were in camp you were either on barrack guard or on fatigues.

Whilst we were based in Holdfast we had two tip outs. I can�t remember the dates but image "Dave-Hobbs_border_tip_out_2.jpg" was taken by the border over looking the Belize river. I remember standing on the volley ball court in Holdfast when the scream of two Harrier fighters fully loaded flew dead low over our camp towards the border. Great days.

During the tip out to the Belize river one Guatemalan solder died. He drowned, the daft sod had a full ammo box tied to himself. The body was retrieved and no trouble came of it.

Also I remember suffering from ring worm and millions of big gaping Mozzy bites which were common. My mate Gary had Beef worms in his head. Foot rot was common. Although we did our best with powder and dry socks At night. Putting wet gear back on in the morning wasn't very pleasant.

It was a great deployment. And a great experience.

Danny, Riccio

The Gallery

6 platoon, Baldy beacon	66mm live firing Baldy beacon	Baldy Beacon
Border patrol	Cayo border OP	Dave-Hobbs border tip out 2. © Dave Hobbs.
Me, 2 section, 2 week patrol	Border Patrol 2	Mixed BDF patrol © Andy Coulter.
	Smudge on patrol

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