Page 46 - MERCIAN Eagle 2011

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THE MERCIAN EAGLE
Foreword
By the Commanding Officer, Lt Col Giles Woodhouse
I am proud and humbled to have served on operations with the officers and soldiers of the
3rd Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Staffords)
in central Helmand across a wide range of roles on our first deployment to Afghanistan in modern times. Whether it was B Company in WARRIORS operating in Maiwand District for the Americans, A and C Company securing the communities of Rahim and Khar Nikah kalays in the remote Upper Geresk Valley under Danish command, or those of us in Headquarters and
the Battalion have lived up to our apt Regimental Motto of ‘Stand Firm, Strike Hard’. This campaign progress inevitably came at a cost; one fallen comrade and a number of wounded, one of whom is still recovering from his wounds. While every fallen soldier is one too many, the single loss does perhaps help serve to underline the improving security conditions witnessed on Op HERRICK
14. Numerous strands of successful operational activity have coalesced over time to deliver this
Dragon Company employed
as mentors in the Brigade
Advisory Group, it is fair to
say that all made significant
contributions to the tangible
campaign progress made on Op HERRICK 14. Kinetic incidents were significantly down than for the corresponding ‘fighting season’ the previous year and the Afghans (ANA, AUP, ALP and local communities) have taken on greater responsibility for delivering security in central Helmand. We have all done our bit towards setting the conditions for Transition to an Afghan lead for security in 2014.
That said, success meant fierce fighting was no stranger to many and the insurgents, to their cost, learned the hard way the martial prowess of ‘Knot’ wearing Mercians. In defending small, frequently attacked, combat outposts in the Green Zone or leading operations to disrupt the insurgents in their ‘safe havens’, the soldiers of
effect but I must acknowledge, and highlight, the efforts and sacrifice made by our two sister Battalions on previous deployments.
Of course, the picture for Op HERRICK 14 would not be complete
without due recognition of the endeavours of my Rear Operations Group, in Fallingbostel and the Midlands, who supported the deployed force magnificently. I must also offer my heartfelt thanks for the assistance from the wider regimental family, the support of the Midlands community as a whole and the wide range of individuals from around
the country who took the trouble to send welfare packages or raise welfare funds to support the soldiers during the deployment. As I write this the Battalion has just returned from post tour leave and is looking forward to embarking on a programme of homecoming parades in the Midlands and a thanksgiving service in Lichfield Cathedral.
PB Sparta. First build and patrols.
‘Stand Firm, Strike Hard’
3MERCIAN