Page 28 - Mercian Eagle 2012

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THE MERCIAN EAGLE
Foreword
By the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel PG Gilby
It is a great honour and a pleasure to write this forword having recently taken over Command from Lt Col Colin Marks. I wish him all the best in the future in his new life in “civvie” street and thank
him for looking after the Battalion through a very busy and demanding Operational period. Since
the last issue the Battalion has been deployed on OP HERRICK 15 and OP OLYMPICS which will be covered in more detail within the Company articles.
Wimbledon, the Olympic Park and Colchester. This was a classic “Question 4” moment and saw all hands to the pumps: even the QM (M) Maj Doug Hallam and the MTO Capt Paul Mullis had to deploy on to the ground, striking fear into the ranks of the Chelsea Pensioners that they would be mobilised next! OP OLYMPICS proved to be a life-time experience for all who deployed, and they rubbed shoulders with the great and the good. The Olympic spirit and enthusiasm was felt by all who enjoyed a few weeks in the Capital which proved a welcome change from the normal RAAT and training tasks.
Life on the home front in Belfast is as busy
and varied as ever with a huge changeover in personalities across the Battalion over the summer months. Many have been promoted, posted, received redundancy or just simply completed their time. Capt Pete Lewis has hung up his Command Sergeant Major badge and has taken over as
The Battalion was split to the four winds in Afghanistan, with BG HQ and C Company deploying to the Upper Gereshk Valley as CF BURMA. Taking over from a huge USMC force left us feeling slightly out-gunned initially but we soon stamped our authority and re-established ourselves again in the UGV as a force of high reputation delivering lasting security and setting the scene for transition in the future. A (Grenadier) Company deployed initially under 5 Rifles and then 3 Scots to KOPAK AO which proved to be a bitterly
contested area with a high
density of capable insurgents
willing to test themselves against
the comprehensively trained
and ever tenacious Grenadiers.
Who proved more than willing
to correct them in their ways,
including very original methods
of persuasion with a local
Mullah! B (Champion) Company
deployed under 3 Scots to
Nad-e-Ali where they soon
established themselves as the
“Shura specialists” Company
whose dynamic template and
consistency has become a
model for transition for the
future. D Company as ever were spilt between all and provided the punch to all the Rifle Coys, ever vigilant, patient and waiting to strike with their vast array of weaponry. The unsung heroes of the tour were the ROG led by Maj Stanier and the ever faithful WO2 Worboys who travelled far and wide to reassure families, visited all the wounded and the bereaved families. Their horrendous job and their commitment cannot be underestimated and they are worthy of high praise for a job well done. Our thoughts and condolences go to the families of Pte Matthew Haseldin and Captain Rupert Bowers who were very tragically killed in action during the tour: may they rest in peace.
The post-tour homecoming parades were a real tonic on return and a real boost to morale when we paraded through the streets of Holywood, Nottingham, Derby and Worcester. A huge Thank You to all who came out to cheer the boys through their local streets and a special Thanks to all the Regimental Association members and cadets who turned out to support all the parades. It is all good practice for next June and the Presentation of Colours where again we will have the past present and future on parade.
Whilst deployed in Afghanistan we were initially warned off to provide a small contingent to the Olympics; however post the G4S bombshell we eventually deployed 300 men scattered between
UWO with CSgt Dennis CGC
at his side. Maj Greg Bayliss has moved to London, with
Maj Chris Wood returning to Battalion ready to revitalise sport and the many forms of fighting. Maj Tim Spoor has handed
over C Company to Maj Craig Fowler whose Sheffield accent has not been heard for some time. Nearly all the Company Sergeant Majors, CQMS, CSgts, Platoon Commanders and Platoon Sergeants have changed over since tour. Their names are too numerous to mention, but all bring a new spring in their step ready for the
next challenge or trying to keep on the good side of the new QM (M) Maj Doug Hallam and the RSM WO1 Chatterley who are hell bent on reinforcing in- barracks routine and education for all.
On the 15th Oct we said good bye to 19 Light Bde whom we have served under since 2008 and have been re subordinated to 12 Mech Bde in Bulford which is the largest Bde in the Army which suits our dynamics exceptionally well.
Our initial commitments for the next year have been confirmed, with A Company providing the ARRC SP FP Coy tasking for the whole of 2013, which will potentially see them travelling far and wide. B Company are South Atlantic bound in the New Year to be the Falkland Island Resident Infantry Company (FIRIC) for three months
from January, and C Company are to return to Afghanistan for 4 months to deliver the OPTAG RSOI training package for OP HERRICK 18.
C Company will be bolstered from around the Battalion by subject matter experts to deliver their training, mainly centred in MOB Bastion where we wish them well. The whole battalion will deploy
on EX ASKARI STORM in Kenya next summer
as start of the build-up training for our confirmed UN deployment to OP TOSCA in Cyprus in early 2014. Thus 2013 will not be an easy year, with many of the boys deployed across a host of varying commitments.
Taking over from a huge USMc force, left us feeling slightly out gunned initially but we soon stamped our authority and re- established ourselves again in the UGV as a force of high reputation...
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