Page 100 - MERCIAN Eagle 2022

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Watchman
It was a sad start to the year as our beloved Mascot, CSgt Watchman V, known affectionately as Somme, sadly passed away on 13th January. 13 years
of dedicated service to 3 MERCIAN and The Staffordshire Regiment Association will forever be remembered by the Regimental Family. Somme’s funeral was held on 31st January at Burton Town Hall, where he was laid to rest with his predecessors, with full military honours.
Watchman VI continues to work for the Association with a fairly packed schedule. There are too many events and activities to talk about in just one article, however we would highlight the following:
In May we visited The Mercian Regiment Headquarters where WO2 (Retd) Greg Hedges, handler for Watchman, presented the Mercian Regiment Ram Major, Cpl Philip Thornton, with a personalised Bayonet and Scabbard. The presentation was made to thank Cpl P Thornton for leading the Bearer party at the funeral of
handler, this presentation is to allow the Ram Major to be “Forever Sworded”. The blade
Centre as part of the commemorations of the successful merger of the 1st and 2nd Battalion’s of The Mercian Regiment. While a merger isn’t always seen as a good thing, it brought the 1st Battalion to full strength.
November saw us travel to Westminster Abbey for The Fields of Remembrance. We paid our respects to all of the fallen soldiers. Each plot saw incredible amounts of poppies; a true testament to remembering the fallen. We also had the pleasure
of greeting the Queen Consort, where Watchman VI was given a royal pat on the head!
You can keep up-to-date with Watchman VI via the Official Watchman Page: https://www.facebook.com/ WatchmanStaffordshire/
ICH DIEN.
CSgt Watchman V. Cpl Thornton was dedicated to the task, which he ensured was carried out with respect and dignity, as did the others who volunteered to carry Somme.
As a fellow handler he understood that the task was important, and this wasn’t lost on the Staffordshire Regimental Association members present
is engraved on one side with his Regimental number and name, and on the other the eagle, the title Regimental Ram Major, the motto “Stand Firm Strike Hard” and a Rams head.”
In September we paraded through
DMS Whittington Barracks, the old home to The Staffordshire Regiment, as part of the Staffordshire Regiment
Greg said: “As a
fellow handler he
understood that the
task was important, and
this wasn’t lost on the
Staffordshire Regimental
Association members present. It was decided to make a presentation to him, to mark the respect he had shown as a fellow
reunion, and later in the month we witnessed the 1st Battalion of The Mercian Regiment parade through Tamworth Town
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