Page 78 - MERCIAN Eagle 2015

OC
CSM PSAO SPSI Mors PSI QSPSI
Maj Tony Seager WO2 John Ward Capt Robbie Davies WO2 Warren Peckett CSgt Russell Weaver
CSgt Paul Campbell/ CSgt Tony Hoey
76
B (Malta) Company
OC Foreword – Major Tony Seager
The last twelve months have been busy ones for the 4th Battalion, and B (Malta) Company has certainly played its part in the majority of activity. It has also been a period in which we have said farewell to old faces and welcomed some new ones. The New Year saw the departure after a long period of excellent service of CSgt Paul ‘Cammy’ Campbell to an FTRS post closer to home. As QPSI, Cammy has provided the Company considerable support for a significant period of time and we know that it was a difficult decision for him to make. I am extremely grateful for his efforts as are the rest of the Company; efforts that did not go unrecognised when in Spring it was announced that he had been awarded a Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside Certificate of Merit for his contribution, not only to the Reserves but also the wider community. At the same ceremony the long term efforts
of Mrs Vicky Ford our Admin Officer were also recognised; praise that was long overdue. Both were presented with their awards at Liverpool Town Hall in front of proud friends and family. Into Cammy’s shoes we welcome CSgt Tony Hoey, fresh from completion of his Regular service and a familiar face as the former HQ Coy SPSI. Finally we bade a fond farewell to Lt Patrick
Paddy Highet in spring as he started the Regular Commissioning process. All members of the Company recognised his commitment and the contribution
he has made. Not a new face but a formal recognition of his position within the Company, the awarding of substantive rank to WO2 John Ward confirming his status as CSM.
Feretta at Honistor mine on the Sunday morning. Via Feretta is Italian for ‘Iron road’ and was the method used by Italian soldiers fighting in the Alps during WW1 to move
to the front using ladders and ropeways attached to the side of the mountain face; think Go-ape but significantly higher and rustier! In the midst of a storm there was
a mix of hangovers and trepidation as we made our way to the top of the mine and,
having been shown how the safety equipment worked, set off over
a series of higher and more exposed rock faces. At least one of the senior members of the Company expressed his personal thanks for the opportunity and if nothing else it’s one way
of keeping Cpl Wood quiet. Thankfully there were no hobnail boots and large packs for us, also no-one was shooting at us!
Battalion FTX saw the Company split between those fighting to keep Breconia free (again) and the Mortars platoon
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
On the training front, the company
has been busy. In August we enjoyed a challenging adventure training package based around Kendal. Saturday was tubing day, as a Company
we floated down a
progressively larger
and larger set of rapids
either balanced on or
swimming frantically
after a large rubber
ring. Having to walk
past the rapids to get
to the start point did
nothing to reassure the
nervous! We finishing by jumping off a cliff into a (hopefully) deep pool below the final waterfall; anyone having second thought received the expected compassionate encouragement! The highlight of the weekend for me (but not all) was the Via
In the midst of a storm there was a mix of hangovers and trepidation as we made our way to the top of the mine