Ice-axe

In 1976 'Bronco' Lane joined the first all-military expedition to climb Mount Everest. Bronco and Sergeant John ‘Brummie’ Stokes reached the summit, but on the way down terrible weather forced them to spend the night in a snow hole. With his fellow climber suffering from snow blindness and breathing becoming difficult, Bronco had to remove his glove to open an oxygen bottle. When he did this he knew he would probably lose his fingers to frostbite. Both climbers also lost all of their toes.

Adventure training and participation in expeditions have always been important parts of life in the British Army. Such activities developed soldierly qualities such as leadership, fitness, physical and moral courage, initiative, powers of endurance, teamwork and independence.

Ice-axe used by Major Michael 'Bronco' Lane, 7th Royal Horse Artillery on an ascent of Mount Everest, May 1976
NAM. 2000-10-676