Page 4 - MERCIAN Eagle 2011

Foreword
By The Colonel of The Regiment
The Mercian family has had another tough year, but has emerged, yet again, the stronger for it. I remain hugely proud of what we, or rather you, have done.
The last twelve months have
seen all four battalions preparing
for, deploying or deployed on,
or returning and recovering from
operations in Afghanistan. The 1st
Battalion’s tough fight of 2010 was
rewarded with a commendable
haul of honours, including two
MBEs, two MCs and two QGMs,
along with the accolade of ‘Britain’s
Best Unit’ in the ‘Millies’. The
3rd Battalion spent the best part
of 2011 in Afghanistan, fighting
hard, with two ground-holding
companies and an Armoured
Infantry company attached to
3 Commando Brigade and a
substantial part of the Battalion, led by the CO, mentoring and developing the Afghan National Army so that they can take over the fight for themselves. The level of combat remained intense, and Private Gareth Bellingham lost his life protecting his comrades-in-arms, but I am happy to learn that almost all of the wounded have returned to duty already. The 2nd Battalion began to deploy for their fourth tour in Afghanistan as the leaves turned golden in Belfast. They have taken on the most demanding of roles, which will be reported in its place next year when they return, but suffice is to say that they have been required to fight hard from the start: a fight that, sadly, has already taken the life of Private Matthew Haseldin. The 4th Battalion has also continued to contribute to Operation HERRICK, with fifty-seven on HERRICK 14 and a further two on HERRICK 15, as well as providing on-going support to Op TOSCA in Cyprus. And, to complete the circle, the 1st Battalion is now well into its preparation for its next Afghan tour. I suspect that the
history of Afghanistan will show that
it was the period from the spring of
2010 to the spring of 2012 that the
corner was turned in terms of the
tactical fight. And we, the Mercian
Regiment, have been front-and-
centre throughout that fight.
Our Colonel in Chief, Earl P Chester, has remained firmly at the head of our family, visiting us this year at home (in Belfast), on training (on Salisbury Plain) and welcoming us to his home (Sandringham) to receive our Afghan medals. He is intensely interested in all that we do and is a regular correspondent with both RHQ and the COs deployed on operations. His support has been tangible and invaluable, especially for the wounded and
the families of the fallen. Across
the rest of the Regiment I have been delighted with the growing feeling of Mercian brotherhood, and I suppose that good illustrations include the attendance of 136 officers, past and present, at the regimental dinner at Sandhurst (and we achieved that with everyone being horribly busy and a battalion away on operations), and the growing crowd, and spectrum of Association banners, at Crich.
But, against that background
of Mercian togetherness, from cadet to veteran, we have also maintained exceptionally close links with the local county communities that nurture us. The 1st Battalion’s home-coming parades through Cheshire were moving occasions conducted in packed streets of
cheering crowds, and the 3rd Battalion, as I write, are about to start a similar relay through Staffordshire. Fund-raising events, by serving soldiers, soldiers’ family members and
by our wider local communities have been exceptional this year; and we have also been wonderfully supported, both morally and financially, by affiliated organisations such as the Worshipful Company of Bowyers. The launch of The Mercian Network, championed by the CO of the 4th Battalion, has also set in motion a series of deeper links into the movers and shakers of the Mercian region, which I hope will bear considerable fruit in a number of areas: from recruiting new soldiers to the second careers of veteran Mercians.
All of this has been held together by RHQ in Lichfield, and the outstations and museums in Chester, Nottingham and Worcester, and I am profoundly grateful to all of our RHQ staff for what they do for the whole regimental family. Lt Col Richard Spiby has already had a huge impact: stepping from command
of the 3rd Battalion into the shoes of Regimental Secretary he brings a wealth of current experience and personal competence to RHQ. And it would be very remiss of me not to thank, as they depart after so many years of loyal service, Majors Bob Prophet and Mike Green for their immeasurable contributions to getting the Mercian Regiment up and running.
So, in a nutshell: it’s been a hard year; it’s been a good year; we are a fighting brotherhood and a strong wider family; and we can address the challenges of the future with unity and strength. Stand firm, strike hard.
ARDS
2 THE MERCIAN EAGLE