Page 35 - MERCIAN Eagle 2022

QM’s Department
QM Maj Viveash QM(T) Capt Long RQMS(T) WO2 Fowles RQMS(M) WO2 Umney
SSgt Ampadu, CSgt Collins & Sgt Lambert
The Quarter Master’s (QM’s) Department have had a very busy year, supporting exercises and deployments from company to battle group level, the amalgamation of
1 and 2 MERCIAN, and the preparation for taking over the Lead Armoured Battle Group (LABG) fleet. A central theme throughout has been continuous maintenance of operational effectiveness despite the unit’s busy schedule since returning from Op CABRIT 8.
Ex IRON STORM was the focus during the early part of last year. The QM’s
team provided logistic support during
the Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise (CALFEX) and the Final Test Exercise (FTX). This was very demanding for the QM’s department; on a battlegroup level exercise this task would usually be fully supported by an RLC regiment but, due to unforeseen circumstances, the QM’s Department took the lead. In both phases of the exercise the battle group was kept supplied with ammo, rations, spares, and fuel for a variety of new and unfamiliar equipment types and vehicles including Challenger, AS90 and Engineer assets.
During the amalgamation between 1 and 2 MERCIAN, the QM’s Department was busy squeezing all the new arrivals into every available bedspace in Bulford. They also facilitated multiple trips up and down the M6 to fetch, check, account
for and then distribute throughout the Battalion a range of items previously held by 2 MERCIAN, now adorning the shelves
Transportable Container Operational Portable Office Box Body,
EX IRON STORM, Salisbury Plain, Jul 22
and stores of the
new 1 MERCIAN.
Unfortunately, the
amalgamation hadn’t
gone un-noticed and
the Department were
called upon to share
some of the spoils
with needy units
around the Field
Army to facilitate
their training with
loans or transfers of
kit. Meanwhile the
clothing store and
tailors were revving
into high gear to ensure the maximum numbers of individuals were fully fitted with correctly trimmed No. 2 uniforms ready
for Freedom Parades across our recruiting area.
The Commander’s Coin for Pte Gurung, Bulford Camp, Sep 22
hard, play hard’, all this merriment was earned by conducting a suitably arduous PT session organised by the QM(T).
We had the pleasure of receiving brethren from 2 MERCIAN; Cpl
Cpl (Seaman) Bywater, Wiltshire, Oct 22
Throughout the year Pte Gurung flew the flag for the Logistic Support Specialist trade and as part of the
‘1st Line Optimisation’
team was nominated for
a ‘Conductor’s Coin’.
His diligent, determined,
proactive approach to
lead and support the G4
team was identified as
phenomenal. Pte Gurung
was presented with the
Conductors coin during the
RLC Corps dinner night
by the Field Army Command Ordnance Warrant Officer.
Although a busy period, the Department always made time for a bit of team bonding, with the QM Main’s team annihilated by the Tech team in the ‘escape room challenge’ (QM Main side not managing to escape, but the Tech team complete with 5 minutes to spare!). Following up with a well-earned trip to the local brewery, we learned the limits of Cpl Russell’s capacity. In the spirit of ‘work
Russell and Pte Greenwood, who have been welcomed
in with open arms. We have also seen the arrival of our new QM Maj Viveash, QM(T) Capt Lent, CSgt Collins (with Bailey never far away) and our new Barrack Manager Cpl (Seaman) Bywater. With arrivals come departures and we have had to say
farewells to CSgt Tomlinson who escaped and run off to a spurious appointment at RMAS, Pte Peake who has moved into the civilian world, and the ‘fisherman’s friend’ Cpl Freeman who has been attracted by an assignment to the Queen’s Division Training Team. Finally, to the longest serving Mercian warrior (allegedly around at Agincourt), Capt George Long, who on promotion moved down the road to Tidworth to become the QM(M) at 1 Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.
Following up with a well-earned trip to the local brewery, we learned the limits of Cpl Russell’s capacity
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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