Page 60 - MERCIAN Eagle 2022

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Ex EAGLES PILGRIM
The Revd Ollie North, Chaplain
After Covid-19 had prevented the annual Crich Pilgrimage from taking place, this year was also going to be a special event. However, for 2 MERCIAN it was going to be an especially poignant occasion, as this would be the last time they would parade at the Crich Memorial before their merger with 1 MERCIAN later that month. To that end, I decided that the Bn should find a meaningful way to mark the event.
The concept of pilgrimage has deep religious significance. In mediaeval times, pilgrims would walk up to 2,000 miles to reach a sacred site, stopping off at local abbeys and monasteries to rest on their way. Whilst the Crich Memorial is not a religious site, to the Mercian Regiment and its antecedent regiments it is a place of deep significance.
This led me to conceive an idea of taking a small group of soldiers from 2 MERCIAN and walking 105 miles over 8 days from our home in Weeton to the Crich Memorial, arriving in time for the annual Pilgrimage on Sunday 03 July.
On Sunday 26 June 6 walkers and
2 support crew, consisting of a driver
and chef, set off. The route took in trails including the Lancaster Canal towpath, the Ribble Way, the Burnley Way and
the Pennine Bridleway. Whilst starting
flat when leaving Weeton, we ascended some 2,872 metres over the course of
the week, with many of the hills coming in the beautiful Peak District. However, the Padre had booked the Goldilocks weather; not too hot, not too cold, but just right! Whilst we were walking our support crew would ensure lunch was bought, made and delivered to an RV, before picking us up at the end of the day and taking us to our accommodation, before arranging our evening meal.
In the spirit of pilgrimage, we stopped for the night at churches along our way and were treated to some wonderful hospitality. It is amazing what a good brew and a hot shower can do for morale, even if we were sleeping on roll matts on church floors!
As the week went on fatigue set in, but the whole team were adamant that we would complete what we had set out to achieve. On Sunday 03 July, we stepped
off on the final 5 miles of our trip. Whilst the shortest leg, the final climb to Crich isn’t favourable on tired legs – the views from the memorial might look wonderful, but that comes at a price if you’re walking! However, arriving at the memorial and paying our personal respects prior to the service was a moving occasion for the whole team.
Whilst 2 MERCIAN won’t parade at the Crich Memorial again, the achievements of the team and the memories made will last a lifetime. It is said that Pilgrimage is as much about the journey as it is the destination;
in our case it is fair to say that they were of equal significance.
The Participants: WO2 Castledine,
Sgt Doherty, Sgt Ngu (Nurse), Cpl Neale (Instructor), Cpl Silvers, Pte Hepburn (Chef) and Pte Mohammed (Driver) and Padre North.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE