Page 34 - WishStream Year of 2023

‘Cheerfulness in the Face of Adversity’ Burma Company Dinner Night
OCdts Mildren & Knight
The core of our training at Sandhurst lies not just in the development of a keen strategic eye, or the shine of one’s ammo boots, but also in the growth of character, resilience, good humour, and spirit. On Wednesday 22nd November 2023, Burma Company hosted an evening for friends and family, centred around ‘cheerfulness in the face of adversity.’ The night challenged all present to reflect on this spirit that has been so critical in sustain- ing every one of us amidst the many challenges that Sandhurst presents, and which has fostered an incredible sense of camaraderie, family, and a shared understanding among all the Officer Cadets (OCdts) of Burma Company.
With the OCdts dressed to the nines, a sense of excitement grew as we waited for our guests to gather inside the Chapel. The short yet poignant service set the tone for the evening, with a collec- tion of hymns, well known to all, and a compelling excerpt from ‘Quartered Safe Out Here,’ delivered excellently by OCdt Wilson. Towards the end of the service, OCdt Shankland, who was responsible for coordinating the evening, invited all those present to reflect on the importance of ‘cheerfulness in the face of adversity’ in the context of past challenges. By the closing blessing, the service had provided a rousing prelude to the Burma Company Dinner Night.
The dinner unfolded with an impressive array of food and wine, and impeccable service by the New College catering staff, who once again ensured an incredible experience for all. The dining room was decorated with artifacts from the Burma campaign, with a portrait of Field Marshal Slim based in the centre of the room, who’s words are so often used as a foundation on which to develop our own lead- ership. A collection of speeches and vignettes were delivered by OCdts Yeatman, Clark and Croager. Filled with both the experiences of George Mac-
Donald Fraser during the Burma campaign, as well as the personal experiences of the OCdts, their speeches illuminated instances where cheerful- ness prevailed in the face of adversity. These were all well received with special mentions handed out to OCdts Chimkaew and Herridge as champions of such unwavering cheerfulness.
As the night drew to a close, and loyalty toasts had been made, the Company and guests retired to the New College bar. As was so frequently noted across all of the lessons of the night, camaraderie is both a cause and effect of ‘cheerfulness in the face of adversity.’ When gazing across the bar, as OCdts spun tales of daring do across the battlefields of Hankley, Brecon, Barossa, and the infamous Minley, it would have been impossible for one to not recog- nise the unwavering strength of Burma Company’s camaraderie.
For those guests who had previously walked up the steps of Old College, the night provided an oppor- tunity to reminisce and reflect upon their own expe- riences at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. For those new to the academy, it gave an excellent insight into the lives of their friends and family in their commissioning journey. But for the OCdts, the evening allowed us to celebrate not just resilience but also the enduring spirit that defines Burma Company, and which will help us to embrace future challenges with unwavering cheerfulness and forti- tude. As highlighted aptly by OCdt Clark, for us, the best is yet to come.
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