Page 40 - Mercian Eagle Year of 2023

Officers’ Mess
A busy year for the Battalion
has seen the officers deployed
to Germany, America, Germany, Sweden, Germany, Romania, Salisbury Plain and Germany again. Whilst presence in the mess has been turbulent, there are a few standout events of the year worthy of mention.
2023 started with the Sharpe’s Sword competition to identify
the top subaltern. This unfolded
with its customary blend of challenges, combining navigation, fitness, tactical competence with officerly essentials including wine tasting and bow ties. As the only two capable of distinguishing a Bordeaux from a boot, Capt Dean Davenport and Lt Rich Langley found themselves in an unlikely
tie. The tiebreaker? A dinner
night debate with more fire than
the Mercians in Kenya saw Capt Davenport come out on top due to his persuasive arguments (or more accurately, Lt Rich Langley’s inability to respond). This annual competition remains a symbol of officership and professionalism – we look forward to crowning next year’s winner.
This year’s Gheluvelt Company networking event, held at the Army Navy Club in London proved a riotous success. Guest speakers imparted wisdom on a combination of life outside the army as well as the variety of jobs available within, followed in quick succession by an enjoyable dinner night, providing equal opportunity to build professional relationships and catch up with old members
of the mess. The event has grown year by year and now under the Gheluvelt Company moniker, 2024’s
event promises to be no different. Many thought it impossible, but
2023 saw the Mercian Officers’ Mess prove the naysayers wrong, achieving 15 out of 15 in The
Times 2 Quiz. The consequences were profound; the ensuing
division within the mess rivalled
an American political rally as the attendees celebrated success whilst the scepticism of non-attendees poured in. Following subsequent red-pen amendments to Mess Rules, it may remain the only Times 2 Quiz win in a generation. The team photo and signed newspaper will, I’m sure, take pride of place in the bathroom cubicles for at least
a month before being removed by Brigadier Simon Banton.
2023 has seen a number of changes; most notably, we said farewell to Lt Col Canham OBE, who moves on to the Centre for Army Leadership, carrying with him the ethos of 1 MERCIAN (and some Mercian oriented podcasts) and we welcomed Lt Col Brown whose first address to the Battalion (“hopefully you’ve all realised I’m not the same bald man that was stood here
last week”) proved a memorable introduction.
We also said farewell to Maj
Si Farley (who literally rowed the Pacific to get away from the Mess early. No small feat, even if “the currents do 80% of the work” (Unnamed Subaltern, 2023)). He’ll be missed as the Senior Major but has been ably replaced by Maj James Ranger (who has quickly become the adoptive father of
the unnamed subaltern). Major Stu Viveash leaves us for what will no doubt be a dynamic stint
commanding HQ Company 1PWRR, Maj Chris Beaumont leaves us to benefit 1 (UK) Civ Div, and Major
Jon Coutts leaves us for a trip to somewhere hot and sunny. Captain Danny Arnold has moved on to create some sort of future in Army HQ, Captain Oli Scott left us for Babcock, Captain Ben Arnold moved on to providing outrageous feedback at CRTC, Captain Adam Keenan decided he couldn’t be arsed with IO and instead decided to try and re-write the Armoured Infantry Commanders’ Course, and Captain Dean Davenport has moved on to the Welsh Guards where his professionalism and thick Welsh accent (or perhaps more accurately plummy public school accent) will surely carry him far. Captain George Fossey has departed to the Eastern front where his characteristic swagger, charm and hopeless haircut will undoubtedly deter the Russians just as well as it appears
to deter the ladies he so admires, and Captain Nic Olive has left us for 4 MERCIAN and a life getting paid more for doing less on the same exercises as us with SAAB. Lt Pete Millward’s questionable moustache undoubtedly delayed his DBS check process prior to starting AFC Harrogate, and Lt Max Hemming has moved on to train recruits at the Infantry Training Centre. We wish them all the best in the new roles both within and outside the army.
To take their place, we have welcomed (welcomed back in some cases) Maj Pattison, Maj Lent, Capt Kennedy, Capt Ireland, Capt Dyson, Capt Davies and newly commissioned Capt Giles and Capt Werrett.
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THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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