Page 78 - MERCIAN Eagle 2011

Band of Drums
76
HQ Company
By Capt J K M Lam RRF
Sgt Read (L) and Sjt Helliwell (R) taking orders from Capt Kaye Was this the OC leading by example in the Coasteering?
HQ Company deployed with the Battalion to STANTA on Annual Camp 2010 during which all members of the Company took part in the training activities that included their MATTs. Captains David Hawkins and John Lam spent the first week of the camp in planning the exercise scenario for the second week, drawing on their operational experience from
their respectively specialist tasks, the cohesion of the Company continued to be strong. The Company had the highest attendance during the Company events that combined both training and social activities where members trained hard and played hard. During the November weekend, members worked hard on the
rocks were higher and steeper. The water in the sea was still pretty chilly when the Company went Coasteering. Leadership was by example with the OC, Maj Angus Taylerson, the first to jump into the sea from a rock, about four storeys high. He remained in the water waiting as the rest of the Company hestitated to follow.
During the year, we welcomed Maj Chris Carter, formerly OC A (Fus) Coy, to become the Battalion Training Officer, Capt Nick Heath, formerly 2IC E (Rifles) Coy, to become the OC RRTT, and WO2 Harding, formerly CSM F Coy, to join the Recruit Training Team. Needless to say that we were sorry to see the departure of OpsO Capt Adam Comery back to his A (Fus) Coy to become the Coy 2IC and we wish him well.
Going overseas we had Sgt Newell and Pte Beasley on attachment to 3 Royal Welsh on exercise in Kenya. LCpl Case and Ptes Williams and Edge joined 3 R Anglian Coy Gp on Ops TOSCA in Cyprus. Pte Reynell had taken Pte Williams’ place to become the Company Recruiter and we have seen a lot of new faces since.
Congratulations to Maj Carter on his MBE award, and his nomination as CO designate. Congratulations also to Sgt Talbot and
Cpl Vaughan on their achievement on the CMCQ/RMQ/DCCT/AMS Course, and LCpl Jones on his PTI Course.
HERRICK 10 and with
WO2 (CSM) Moody
assisting in the range
activities. The exercise
phase for the second
week was based on
the Contemporary
Operating Environment,
where Capt Hawkins dressed in Afghan costume and coordinated all of the CIVPOP and insurgency activities, whereas Capt Lam acted as the IO to input J2 issues, in addition to his RSO role. The Signals Sgt, Matthew Newell, supervised the signallers in maintaining the communications in
the Ops Room, whilst the rest of the HQ soldiers present acted as CIVPOP. In
the subsequent months, the Company continued to support the training weekends in particular those designed for training for operational deployment.
Although the Company was scattered during the Battalion exercise performing
MATTs and enjoyed
the fun of orienteering on Cannock Chase on Saturday, then paraded for the Remembrance Service on Sunday.
In December, the Company celebrated Christmas with a paint-
ball war game and a Chinese buffet dinner. For a number of Tuesday Drill Nights, the Company gathered together at the WOs and Sgts Mess after their normal routines to enjoyed a games night, BBQ and the visit of the Commanding Officer and the Brigade Commander.
Two weekends of Adventure Training have been conducted this year. In March, the Company went rock climbing and open canoeing at Capel Curig on a rainy Saturday and hiking up Mt Moel-Siabod conquering the summit on a sunny Sunday. In August, the Company changed the Adventure Training location to Anglesey, where the
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The water in the sea was still pretty chilly when the Company went Coasteering