A FORMAL dawn parade took place at MOD Lyneham on Friday, October 29, as the 8 Training Battalion’s REME new Commanding Officer took up his post.

Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Horn is taking over leadership of about 1,500 Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers officers and soldiers, from Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Daryl Hirst.

He is assuming leadership of the largest battalion in the Armed Forces since the Second World War.

The soldiers are trainees at the Defence School of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering at MOD Lyneham, whit trains them to service, repair and maintain the Army’s equipment and weapons.

Lt Col Hirst was ceremonially led out of MOD Lyneham on a Royal Marines Viking armoured vehicle, pulled by the battalion’s officers lined with 8 Training Battalion soldiers.

His successor, Lt Col Horn takes on his new role following an assignment as the Army officer at the British Embassy in Washington DC, responsible for UK-US liaison for military vehicle procurement and development.

“I’m looking to bring my operational experience into this training environment,” he said. “The Army is almost as busy now as it ever has been. We have people in Afghanistan and Iraq and close to the front line in operations around the world. One of the Army’s key priorities is readiness – readiness is an attitude and a mind-set and I want to develop this here with our young soldiers.”

Praising Lt Col Hirst, he said: “He’s done an amazing job in merging two battalions into one at a new site. It is a huge honour and privilege to take over command of this battalion and I could not ask for a better foundation on which to build.”

Lt Col Hirst will now take up a position at MOD Abbey Wood in Bristol, as Deputy Team Leader of a £55 million project to procure the MOD’s new robot disposal system.

Lt Col Hirst said: “What an honour and a privilege it has been to be the first Commanding Officer of 8 Training Battalion REME. It was founded on one simple principle: that of trust.

“I treat others the way I would like to be treated myself and, throughout my career, this trust has been paid back in spades – and so that principle endures in the battalion today. Honesty is appreciated, trust is gained, respect is earned and loyalty is returned. At the very centre of it all is trust. And so it is that everyone’s contribution is valued.”