Page 45 - Mercian Eagle Year of 2023

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Assault Pioneer Platoon
2Lt Christian Saunders
2023 has been a transformational year
for 4 MERCIAN’s Assault Pioneer Platoon based in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.
Not only has the Platoon had a change
in command from 2Lt J Payne and Sgt
C Taylor MC to 2Lt C Saunders and
CSgt O Lloyd; but the Platoon has also undergone a transitional period in which
it has had to become adaptable to change due to numerous pivotal members being consistently deployed on various operations.
Within the year itself, the Platoon
has been incredibly busy. With various commitments to operations as well as
the busy schedule and rhythm that the battalion and C (Kohima) Company has conducted itself at, members of the Platoon have had to unselfishly step up their reserve commitments to fully commit to
the battalion’s undertakings. LCpl Ward
has been deployed for the better part of
the year on Op INTERFLEX, which is the UK’s commitment to training Ukrainian armed forces in the UK. Also, CSgt O Lloyd and Cpl B Etches have been deployed on Op ILKANE, which is the British Army’s resilience task to provide a contingency force during UK Border Force strikes. Simultaneously, there has also been monthly opportunities for the Platoon to
The Platoon has also undergone a transitional period in which it has had to become adaptable to change
LCpl Ward on his RPAS (Drone) Course – Summer 23
CSgt O Lloyd receiving his Citation of Meritorious Service by Sir John Peace, Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire- Oct 23
Cpl D Boycott receiving his new Cpl rank slide following promotion from Maj D Rawji – C Coy Dinner Function at Bulwell ARC Nov 23
become involved with Coy and Battalion exercises along with varied AT and Sport events and activities. Furthermore, due to the Mansfield Platoon having two PTIs in Cpl T Leatherland and Cpl R Clark, 2024 will see the return of the OC’s PT to Mansfield, in which C Coy elements at Bulwell will
be heading to Mansfield for. Also, special mention goes to Cpl D Boycott for his well- deserved promotion to Cpl this year.
Following a successful and very well- attended Pizza social on the last drill night of the year, the Mansfield Platoon looks forward to a very busy upcoming year in 2024. In January, 2Lt C Saunders, CSgt O Lloyd and LCpl M Draper will be attending the Basic Assault Pioneers Reserve Course, which is a two week long course at Gibraltar Barracks in Camberley. In this course they will be learning the basic engineering skills behind mobility, counter-mobility, and survivability on the battlefield. Cpl D Boycott also hopes to deploy on Op Tosca and
2Lt Saunders will be attending PCBC(R)
in March 24. Conclusively, the Mansfield Platoon, C (Kohima) Coy and the battalion as a whole looks forward to the upcoming exercise in Poland in May 2024 which will be a great learning experience as a whole.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE