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Peter from the IMP group took us for a guided tour around Lourdes, explaining how Lourdes came to be, and showing us around the most beautiful and famous basilicas, he also explained what each of the building was used for, and the importance of some of the statues of saints around the place. Once he had shown us around he asked us to turn around and explain what we could see. Pte Bennett answered back “a park, isn’t it” to which we all nodded in agreement. But ‘no’ answered Father Peter; it’s the second largest basilica in Lourdes and as he showed us underneath the grassed field. There we saw the under ground basilica of Lourdes, the size of 4 football pitches. This would be the venue for the Opening Ceremony later on that night.
join it’ and ‘it was so bad it was good’. Whatever it was everyone left on a high. That night, while socialising with some American soldiers, we bumped into another Mercian, Pte Oxley from 1 Mercian; Pte Oxley had lost his right eye and three limbs in an IED explosion on Herrick 12. He had, within a day of being in Lourdes, become a bit of a celebrity amongst the IMP community, for the sacrifice that he had made and for his cheeky charm. After that meeting Pte Oxley marched with the 3 Mercian to the masses during the day and we would meet up at night.
The week was full of other memorable events, the Procession of the Blessed Sacrament, (the body of Christ), where there was the mixture of a military guard for the Body of Christ along with a packed crowd of
civilian onlookers whom had come out to see the Blessed Sacrament: the ‘Stations of the Cross’ up the hill of the Great Basilica which shows the final stages of Christ’s life before he was put to death on the cross. The ‘Midnight Candle Light Procession’ which thousands of pilgrims turned up, all of them having a candle in their hand
as they moved along in a line in the cover of darkness it gave the effect of a sea of lights all moving as one. Privates Martin and McDonnell
braved the freezing cold waters of the Healing Pools of the Gotto, which some believe have the power to heal and restore health. As well as the main events mentioned above there was also time given to the pilgrims to look around Lourdes and explore for themselves.
The IMP at Lourdes ended with the lighting of a candle at the Grotto of Our Lady praying for all those Mercian soldiers who have lost their lives on active service and to pray for the safe keeping of those that deploy on HERRICK 19.
The time at Lourdes had been short but within that time there was a genuine feeling of community regardless of cap badge, service
or even nation; which goes to show the power of the place and the IMP. In good community style we had a band to play us off from the train station and we returned the gesture with waves and cheers, like a scene from a 1940’s film.
The opening Ceremony started with the British
contingency marching through the town of
Lourdes with the Gurkha Band playing and the
three services flying their Colours. The town of
Lourdes came to a stand still. Cars moved off
the road, veterans and serving soldiers stopped
what they were doing and saluted and as is
custom these, days people got out their camera
phones and took pictures and videos. It was a
great honour and the Mercian lads did the British
forces proud. The opening ceremony can be best described as the Eurovision Song Contest with priests in robes being the hosts. Once all the nations were in their designated seats the colours of each of the nations there represented marched their different services’ colours in. As each nation had their colours videoed and projected on the big screens in the centre stage, the nation being videoed would go wild, cheering and flying their mini flags with national anthems and songs being sung. Throughout the ceremony the cameras would pan-off the centre stage and go into the crowd and it would all start again, every nation showing how patriotic they are. The sheer shock on most of the blokes’ faces was a picture but by the end of the ceremony they had all fully bought into it. This was best shown when the hymn ‘This Little Light of Mine’ was being sung. Pte Wilson and Grice had their lighters out above their heads swaying them left to right. I have to admit it ‘took’ me too, maybe it was a mixture of ‘if you can’t beat it
It was a great honour and the Mercian lads did the British forces proud.
Mercian Motorcycle Club Trip to The Harz Mountains “Burn rubber not your Soul” By Sgt Macpherson
It was that time of year after months of planning, immense problem solving and the good old last minute changes by CSgt Williams, Cpl Bird and Cpl Chambers that the Motorcycle Club was able to do the annual trip to the Harz Mountains.
The Harz Mountains are about a two hour ride away and contain some of the most spectacular open roads and views for any biker to experience. The mountain range is in Northern Germany and has a length of
68 miles with some peaks reaching 1000m above sea level. One famous feature of the Harz has is the “36 Bends”: a 5 km stretch of road with 36 bends of all shapes and sizes to test even the most experienced of riders.
It was an open invitation to all past and present members of the Mercian Regiments. In total there was 12 serving soldiers – CSgt Williams, Sgt McGhee, WO2 Hudson, Cpl Bird, Sgt Jackson,
Cpl Woodward, Pte Biggs, Cpl Palmer and his wife Claire Palmer, Cpl Matthews and myself. Two civilians, Nigel Taylor and Matt Harley, and two ex serving members Marcus Humphery and Brian Leek also
The round house. Brian, Marcus, Cpl Bird, Sgt Jackson, Nigel and Matt “Telling motorcycle war stories.”
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