Soldiers raring to join Britain's vaccination effort insists new Royal Artillery boss

‘FRUSTRATED’ soldiers are raring to go and help put an end to the coronavirus pandemic by supporting the effort to roll out a key vaccine, an army boss has admitted.
Tom Cotterill
By Tom Cotterill
Published 30th Nov 2020, 07:00 BST
Gunner Edward Darby, 27, of 26 Regiment Royal Artillery supporting a coronavirus testing hub as part of Operation Rescript, which also saw soldiers from 12 Regiment, Royal Artillery, on Thorney Island, being called upon.Gunner Edward Darby, 27, of 26 Regiment Royal Artillery supporting a coronavirus testing hub as part of Operation Rescript, which also saw soldiers from 12 Regiment, Royal Artillery, on Thorney Island, being called upon.
Gunner Edward Darby, 27, of 26 Regiment Royal Artillery supporting a coronavirus testing hub as part of Operation Rescript, which also saw soldiers from 12 Regiment, Royal Artillery, on Thorney Island, being called upon.

Lieutenant Colonel David Butt, commanding officer of 12 Regiment, Royal Artillery, said he had been inundated with volunteers – and insisted his unit would be ready to help, if called upon.

The 41-year-old, who took on the top job at the regiment in October having previously started his officer career at the unit in 2002, said: ‘I’m already being asked “when are we going, when are we going” – and it’s not about when are we going on leave but when are we going to get out there and get rid of this thing, get rid of Covid.’

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It comes as hospitals nationwide are preparing to dish out the first vaccine batches, with reports saying the earliest treatments could begin next week.

Lieutenant Colonel David Butt, commanding officer of Thorney Island-based 12 Regiment, Royal Artillery.Lieutenant Colonel David Butt, commanding officer of Thorney Island-based 12 Regiment, Royal Artillery.
Lieutenant Colonel David Butt, commanding officer of Thorney Island-based 12 Regiment, Royal Artillery.

The army has already been called upon to set up mass vaccination centres across the country, with sites so far confirmed including one in Bristol.

Afghanistan veteran Lt Col Butt, who is currently self-isolating after being contacted by the NHS’s Test and Trace service, said his soldiers were eager for normal life to resume.

He added the disruption caused by the pandemic had created some ‘friction’ which has forced a ‘rethink’ on how troops train and live.

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‘That has been challenging and I know it has been a frustration for the team,’ he said. ‘That’s one of the reasons why they want to get out and get Covid killed and move on with their lives because the virus is an irritation. They just want to get on and do their jobs.’

Lt Col Butt was speaking exclusively to The News after being appointed as 12 Regiment’s boss.

Still trying to get his ‘feet under the desk’ after a whirlwind few weeks, the colonel said he had been blown away by the enthusiasm shown by his soldiers.

‘I’m extraordinarily proud. Whenever this country in lasting memory has had a crisis, it’s always been the military who have been called upon and will deliver - be it fire strikes, filling sandbags, dealing with foot and mouth disease, assisting the police and now with Covid,’ he added.

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‘At a moment’s notice, we call 300 soldiers to muster in this regiment and they come willingly. So just to be part of that is great. It fills me with pride.’

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Related topics:SoldiersBritainBristolAfghanistan

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