Page 40 - MERCIAN Eagle 2011

QM(M) Maj R Slaney
QM(T) Capt N Magill MBE RQMS(M) WO2 A Higginbottom MBE RQMS(T) WO2 P Muckle
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Quartermasters Department by Maj R Slaney
Time...... where does it go? During
a relatively stable period following Op HERRICK 10 the QM’s Department managed to get the odd Wednesday afternoon either on the Golf course or kicking a ball around the football pitch, we even turned our hand to a spot of go-kart racing. However, after the delivery of some new mountain bikes it was decided we would take them out and put them through their paces. Sgt Allseybrook was set the task and planned a route following tracks and woods from Newtownards back to Holywood finishing off with a well deserved beer in the Dirty Duck which overlooks
the Belfast Lough. Cpl Newton with his selective hearing, heard only the latter, and came dressed for the ride in a designer
T Shirt and fashion trainers looking ready
to hit the town - how wrong could he be? Typical NI weather meant within minutes
we were soaked and covered in mud, including Cpl Newton in his dapper designer outfit; was that really water running out
of his mobile phone because he did not waterproof it? Lesson learned.
With Op HERRICK 15 now looming and the 2nd Bn formally warned off for Mission Specific Training (MST) the team once again kicked into gear. Starting off with Ex ASKARI THUNDER in Kenya the Battle Group deployed and not once found itself wanting; which was primarily down to the efforts of RQMS Muckle and Sgt Hartshorn who ran the Infantry store, along with 10 Local Employed Civilians (LECs). To say the LECs were relaxed in their approach would be an understatement and by the time
we were due to leave, knew every verse
of Bob Marley’s ‘Don’t Worry Be Happy’!
If we could have brought them back with us I would have done so; they know every peg, pole and canvas and can fold and pack a tent in record time – what a great experience to have worked with them.
Not forgetting the many inspections
that units are subject to, the department are thanked for all their efforts over this
last year. A ‘Green’ result on a Combined Inspection Week is a massive achievement, and Sgt Buck was singled out by the LSI team leader for his dedication and accuracy
MTP Arrives L-R Maj Slaney, CSgt Bell, LCpl Cadmore, Cpl Glo – who said breathe in?
of the BOWMAN/USA accounts. Despite our busy programme and
ensuring the Rifle Coys have what they require to conduct training, the QM’s Department have had to make a number of necessary changes for people to have a break from RD or for career development purposes. Capt Noel Magill is the QM(T), WO2 (RQMS) Higginbottom joins us from the 1st Bn as the RQMS Main, WO2 (RQMS) Muckle and Cpl Glover joined
the fold from B Coy, LCpl Parker is the Ammunition Storeman, LCpl Cadmore has become the Clothing Store
2ic and Pte Self just appeared
one day, and has been with us ever since working
in the Accommodation Store. With arrivals come departures, CSgt Bell has been selected to fill a post as a CQMS with the
ARRC in Gloucester and will move post tour whilst Cpl Duggan will fill an Op HERRICK 15 uplift in the Unit Welfare Office
before moving to Warminster where he will work with the ITDU in 2012.
The department has once again
seen success with Honours and Awards with both Capt Magill and WO2 Higginbottom being awarded an MBE; they are congratulated accordingly. Promotion boards have once again recognised the efforts of the G4 voodoo
and congratulations go to both Cpl Allseybrook on his recent promotion to
Sgt and to Pte Dodds to LCpl, and finally to
myself and my wife Sheila for recently becoming
Grandparents for the second time.
Maj Slaney and Capt Lincoln
Cpl Newton and LEC doing Sunshine Mountain
RQMS Muckle attempts to scare his opponents off the go-kart
THE MERCIAN EAGLE