Page 5 - MERCIAN Eagle 2015

The Regiment continues to be exceptionally busy, and fortunately
in very good spirits. Now in the
final throes of the Regimental Reorganisation, I congratulate everyone on how this has been conducted so far...but let’s just tie up the loose ends. I now see most within the Regiment identifying themselves as Mercians, and many of them being rightly proud of their antecedent past. We should not forget where we have come from, but equally, we must continue to look, and to move forward. We’re now in our 8th year, and whilst none of us would have chosen to lose
our 3rd Battalion, in many ways this has forced better integration and to become genuinely Mercian in nature.
The 1st Battalion, having re-roled
and relocated from Catterick to
Bulford has had a spectacular year.
Not only has it overcome many
obstacles to now become a fully
fledged Armoured Infantry battalion,
it has quietly done so to a very high
standard indeed. It must be publicly congratulated on its recent performance under testing conditions on the Canadian Prairie at BATUS.
The 2nd Battalion successfully completed a UN tour in Cyprus, taking under command soldiers from Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Paraguay and Hungary. Prior to the tour it moved from Northern Ireland, where it was visited by HRH The Colonel-in-Chief, to Chester; a very popular move indeed in the soldiers’ eyes. With little respite the Battalion has recently deployed troops to Lithuania and the Battalion to Kenya in preparation for it’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force Commitment in concert with a Spanish Brigade next year.
The 4th Battalion continues to recruit well, and has led some fascinating Short Term Training Team tasks in Uganda; preparing the Ugandans for their imminent UN Mission in Somalia. Its Reservists have trained imaginatively in the UK, Croatia and Kenya. It’s “pairing” with the 2nd Battalion is thriving.
Let us also not forget our affiliated cadets, an integral part of the regimental family and who have represented us
exceptionally well. Their energy and willingness to learn is inspirational, and we must continue to better incorporate them into routine events. As well as helping research the lives of individual soldiers
from our antecedents from WW1, this year, they had the immense honour of parading at the Last Post Ceremony at The Menin Gate.
RHQ continues to hold all of this together in so many ways. With
no Regimental Secretary for 18 months, I commend the small team for their selfless effort to ensure nothing has been dropped, again in the face of considerable external pressures.
We continue to place a lot of emphasis on growing our sporting pedigree. Rugby has become a firm favourite, and we won the inaugural Gheluvelt Cup at the home of
the Worcester Warriors; further cementing our ties with the counties from where we recruit. Whilst on Cyprus for the United Nations Tour,
the 2nd Battalion were worthy winners of the Island’s Boxing Competition beating The Yorkshire Regiment, as well as being crowned XC champions earlier in the tour. Tug of war has also taken hold; the 1st Battalion being the only infantry battalion at the prestigious Braemar Gathering. I foresee further success here.
In short, I believe the Mercian Regiment to be in very
good shape indeed. The Officers and Soldiers are settled in their new locations in Bulford and Chester, and our Reserve footprint seems secure across the five counties of Mercia. We continue to innovate, but one example being our digital and social media presence; widely considered best practice in the wider Army. Most importantly, we appear to be coming of age, with a strong sense of identity and a pride in saying we’re Mercians.
Finally, it would be remiss of me not to point out the untimely and tragic death of Lance Corporal Derby XXX. He had become a firm favourite in everyone’s eyes and shall be sorely missed.
Stand Firm Strike Hard
Foreword
Brigadier Andrew Williams OBE Colonel of The Regiment
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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