Page 58 - Mercian Eagle 2013

RSM WO1 Muckle PMC WO2 Kennedy PEC CSgt Pointon Mess Manager CSgt Hopkins
56
was turned, and through which we went through three iterations. For the first few days of lessons we were accommodated in Okehampton Camp, an old looking but well equipped facility, and for the exercise phase the use of a wood, the training estate itself being completely bereft of such features, was purchased from an alcoholic farmer
by a bottle of cheap rum for a Company harbour at the base of the moor.
As it transpired, it was a record week
for good weather on Dartmoor and
the Company benefited accordingly, allowing many to effectively maintain and improve on the hard won tan of Afghanistan and thereby setting us up for success in the more intense tanning phase which was to follow when
we arrived in Newquay. Training was also conducted in a very constructive manner, allowing the Platoons to bond and develop in a way that had hitherto been difficult
given the very specific nature of the previous tasking. Platoon commanders talked airily of “flicking” their sections around, and “dusting the Helmand sand from your webbing” and “shaking out” were other popular clichés
of the week. In truth, the area was perfect for our training needs, a joy to work in, and,
with its high features crowned by rocky outcrops and the unusually clement weather, very strong preparation for Kenya indeed.
to hurl oneself from, or at least so I am reliably informed. The activity was run by annoyingly laid-back and smug middle class drop-out types, who nevertheless provided us a good, cheap service. They may have
Warrant Officers’ And Sergeants’ Mess By WO2 Kennedy
2013 has been both a very productive if not hectic year for all members of the Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants Mess. January saw WO1 (RSM) Muckle taking over after Capt Chatterley made a dignified (although he was dressed as a giant chicken) escape to the officers mess riding on the front of
a JCB! The pace of life since returning
from Herrick 15 remained at a high tempo, however we have still managed to find time for several well organised functions. WO2 Cooke took the lead for the 2012 Christmas function which was themed “Gangsters
and Molls”. A large number of the mess members looked like gangsters without
the aid of fancy dress, however everyone put maximum effort into embracing the night. The prize draw consisted of a lucky
dip system which saw winning members delighted at the thought of winning a 50” TV, only for the mess to cheer once they had drawn out a ticket for an iPod Shuffle!
CSgt Giles CGC deserves a special mention for completing the London marathon for charity just hours before turning up to Sandhurst for the Instructor selection course. Both he and CSgt McNulty went on to be successfully selected to be instructors at RMAS.
All companies returned to camp and reorganised before setting off to Worcester for the Presentation of New Colours.
The mess led the way early in order
to attend the Worcester reunion. The weather and attendance ensured that
the reunion was extremely successful,
with some guardsman-like drill displayed
by WO2 Saunders. The Presentation of New Colours culminated after the parade with a joint Officers and Sergeants Mess cocktail party. This was held in the plush surroundings of the function rooms inside Sixways Stadium. During the evening the RSM used his powers of persuasion to raise a large amount of money for the Mercian Regiment Benevolent Fund by auctioning off collectable items and days out at key Battalion events.
Battalion life carried on in its usual hectic fashion and before we knew it, it was time
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
Nor did Newquay disappoint. With
the great weather continuing, we lived comfortably in tents
surrounding an old
barn house on MOD
land a short drive from
the town centre, giving
us a good stand-off
distance for our cultural
activities. We ate from
a field kitchen where
our RLC brethren did
an outstanding job
of locally purchased provision, and the site itself backed onto huge army owned dunes, where some good air-rifle rabbit hunting was conducted, and adjacent to a magnificent private beach populated by nudists and an unknown demographic the locals mysteriously referred to as “not- rights”. The coasteering was probably the pick of the activities undertaken although mackerel fishing and surfing were also popular: belly flops aplenty and some of the fifty foot jumps took some real nerve
struggled to marry up the concept of the hard- bitten Afghan veterans they knew us to be with the in-the-flesh reality exemplified by one particular soldier yelling out (on being practically ordered to jump off a not-particularly high pinnacle) “But Sir the
water’s really cold and I’m frightened of fish!”.
Ex SKIRMISH SURFER was a profoundly enjoyable success from which the Company derived much profit. I would strongly recommend the use of the Dartmoor area as a demanding and engaging training estate for light infantry practice and can confirm that Newquay is a fun place to be around in early July.
The activity was run by annoyingly laid-back and smug middle class drop-out types...