A YOUNG soldier from Redditch has joined her Regiment as they rolled onto the frozen landscape of the Northumberland hills for an impressive display of their firepower.
Gunner Shelby Jones, aged 18, from Batchley, joined 350 soldiers from 26 Regiment Royal Artillery, known as the ‘West Midlands Gunners’ who have been taking part in Exercise Mansergh Sabre at the Army’s Otterburn Training area, the second largest firing range in the country after Salisbury Plain.
Gunner Jones, a former pupil of Trinity High School, Redditch, was taking part in her very first Regimental exercise since joining the Army just over a year ago.
The young soldier, who is nicknamed ‘Mustang’ said she signed up for the challenges that military life has to offer.
“I wanted to do something different from everyone else, I didn’t want to end up doing hair and beauty and wanted a challenge,” said Shelby.
“And I wanted to join the Royal Artillery as it was the closest I could get to the action as a female.”
