Page 104 - MERCIAN Eagle 2019

Kohima Remembered
It is the 75th Anniversary of the battle of Kohima this year. The 7th Bn, the Worcestershire Regiment (TA) took part in this battle. In Commemoration of the battle, Lt Col Beard TD presented the Battalion with a trophy in the form of a silver statuette of a soldier of the Battalion. It is made from Silver rupees with the face of King George VI.
The base is made from wood from a tree from Kohima. It was to be competed each year by the Companies of the Battalion. On the formation of Mercian Volunteers, it became an inter-Platoon competition
of B Company as Col ERW Tooby OBE TD, the then sponsor Officer of B Company, later Honary Colonel of
1 MERCIAN V was at Kohima with the 7th Bn.
The Kohima Statuette
The statuette holds pride of place within the Kidderminster Branch of the Association. The Branch intend to lay a wreath beneath the 7th Bn Colours in St Mary’s Church, Kidderminster to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Battle.
Armed Forces Day
Association members were out in force on Monday 24 June parading
at the numerous Civic Ceremonies
to commemorate Armed Forces Day. Members were present at Dudley, Kidderminster, Walsall, Stockport
and Wolverhampton at The Flag raising ceremonies and other activities arranged by the local authorities or the Branches themselves.
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Mercian Volunteers Regimental Association
Message from the Chairman
This year has seen the life of the Association continue at its usual hectic pace due to
the enthusiasm and hard work of the members, in particular the Chairman of the Branches. With over 400 members, roughly half active and thriving, regular meetings
are held throughout the Midland counties with twenty to forty members present on a given date as well as running and attending many events promoting the name of the Association.
We held our AGM in March at the Royal Navy Club in Nottingham, hosted by the Nottingham Branch. Sadly, the Nottingham Branch Secretary, Phil Sguires was unable to attend due to his recovery from his long stay in hospital. This did not stop him from organising the event from his hospital bed and latterly home, making sure that Major Lawrence Chell had a clear understanding of the organisation that he had put in place. We would like to wish that Phil continues
to recover and that we will see him around and continuing to ‘prod’ fellow Association members into action!
The AGM was a very successful event and for the first time the Association presented to members a ‘Merit Award’ who it was felt had contributed much to the life of the Association and its work. Those receiving the Awards were: Capt. S Whaite TD, Messrs: R Bates, G Bird, P Fairbrace, J Kirk. ISM, P Marsh, G Maycroft, M Powell, B Pratt, E Rowley, B Turvey and P Squires. Congratulations to all of them.
We also held our Branch Representatives Meeting at RHQ Lichfield which we held
in conjunction with a brief service of Remembrance (this year on 6th November)
MVRA Members attended a Veterans ‘Breakfast meeting’ at the City of Wolverhampton College.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
Mac Powell, Walsall Branch, being presented with his merit Certificate by the Chairman John Kirk.
held at our Memorial, the Mercian Grove within the National Memorial Arboretum. We were also there on the 25 August for our annual “casual” Picnic where we took time out to reflect on all those who have passed on in the previous year.
Richard Bates, Rugeley Branch, being presented with his Merit Award by the Chairman of
the Association, Lt Col A J Scott MBE.