Page 40 - Mercian Eagle 2013

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feel very familiar to the 1982 campaign. To ensure the experience was complete the weather turned significantly and brought with it a South Atlantic snowstorm, coupled with gale force winds leaving the troops unexpectedly cut off during the final phase of the exercise. Cold, tired, wet and on their final rations the men of B (Champion) Company ‘grizzed out’ the remainder of the exercise and were extracted with sobering thoughts and a very small taste of what
the men who liberated the Falkland Islands were subjected to during that war.
It was an educational experience for all and the chance to take part on guided tours through recent battlefields from subject matter experts was one that is hard to come by. Standing on the spot where not so long ago bayonet charges were led and VCs were won was an experience that silenced even the loudest of private soldiers.
On reflection the Company’s experience in the Falkland Islands was one that
improved us in many ways. The training conducted at Platoon and Company level was both challenging and realistic. The educational and historical lessons digested during our deployment ensured that every man came home with valuable knowledge for future deployments. With a deployment to Kenya on the horizon our time in the South Atlantic has left B (Champion) Company well prepared.
love our exercise; as such it was always possible to find somebody from 5 Platoon thrashing themselves hard, whether that be on the rowing machine or in the case of Pte Williams trying to turn those pipe cleaner arms into weapons of mass destruction “Was he successful?” I hear you ask, to put it bluntly absolutely not.
On return from the Falkland Islands and after some well-deserved leave, focus has shifted towards preparing for the Battalion level exercise in Kenya. With lots of new faces in the Platoon there is emphasis on creating a strong bond of understanding regarding the Company work ethic and ensuring that each man realises that he
is a Bayonet, a force to be reckoned
with, striking fear into the enemy and a
vital component in achieving the ultimate objective. 5 Platoon are continuing to perform to a high standard; there is no doubt that we will continue on this upward curve peaking in Kenya and playing an important role in the success of 2 MERCIAN in the wilds of Africa.
5 Platoon B (Champion) Company Lt Will Webber OC 5 Pl
The last year has been yet another busy and exciting period for 5 Platoon, B Company,
2 MERCIAN. With time spent both training hard in Northern Ireland, including a deployment to the Falkland Islands, where the mere rumour of the presence of ‘The Helmand Hardmen,’ The Sun, was enough to keep the Argentines at bay!
The Falklands deployment was an opportunity to explore
new lands, take
advantage of some
The Falkland Islands will be covered in greater depth in a later article. However it cannot go without mention here: it gave Section Commanders, most whom had only ever known Afghanistan, a chance to conduct their own training in line with the OC’s intent. The Section Commanders seized this opportunity and really made the most of it, some very valuable training was
achieved. The platoon even discovered that one of their number, Pte Lovatt, has an incredible war face,
it was so good Sgt Umney subjected him twice to a muddy and stagnant bayonet range,
which had seen lesser cap badges brought to tears, just to see him unleash his wrath in the true style of a B Company Bayonet.
It was not all work and no play, the facilities in camp were second to none, with a very well equipped gym, swimming pool, rugby and football pitches. Our natural disposition would indicate that we
incredible training
opportunities and walk
in the footsteps of the
previous generation
of soldiers, as they
fought through what is
considered by some to be the last of the truly conventional conflicts.
Training in build up for the Falklands Islands involved spending a lot of time in our beloved Magilligan Training Centre in the North West of Northern Ireland, where the weather is nothing but truly abysmal – perfect for the Falklands. During this period the Platoon was involved in a well-crafted escape and evasion exercise which involved sections trekking across The Binevenagh Mountains passing through a number of manned checkpoints. They covered in the region of 18 miles with little more than a
few rations and the clothes on their back. The lads were told to report in suitable civilian attire for the event and unwilling to make things easy on themselves arrived
in a healthy array of plimsoll style trainers, heavy cotton tracksuit bottoms and stylish/ non waterproof jackets – those 18 miles to their final objective, a warm and cosy TA centre, will certainly remain blazoned on some of their minds for quite some time. After successfully evading their captures,
5 Platoon took some well-earned leave before returning to fly to the depths of the South Atlantic.
Elements of the formidable 5 Pl
The Section Commanders seized this opportunity and really made the most of it...
THE MERCIAN EAGLE