Page 51 - MERCIAN Eagle 2020

B (Malta) Company
Maj Robbie Davies MBE (PSAO)
Since writing the last article much has happened within the company. The pandemic has seen a shift in the way we do our business which we could never have anticipated. However, on a positive note, it has brought the Company together and we have seen it grow in strength. On returning from Ex IRON WOLF in Nov 19 the Company settled ready for Christmas stand-down and we also wished LCpl Pinder well as he mobilised and deployed on OP TORAL with 4 SCOTS.
January brought the New Year and
the company resumed training in the
normal fashion and started to prepare for
Ex WARHAMMER 20, a 2-week live firing camp (LFTT) at Warcop Training Area. A little more involved for the company as we were sponsoring the camp. The OC, Maj Bowden-Williams, cracked on with the
PSIs to plan and deliver ranges whilst the G4 team started the logistical planning.
The exercise took place in March and the company deployed in good order with the newly promoted WO2 Harrison and his staff, including the CSM, running a successful Mortar Cadre which culminated in a Bn live firepower demonstration.
In the background the country was starting to see the early stages of the pandemic and the company ROG were working hard on some COAs in support
of BHQ who were by now planning for potential Battalion mobilisation on what later became known as Op RESCRIPT. By the end of Ex WARHAMMER, the company had been put on notice and 22 personnel had volunteered for mobilisation as part
of MoD’s response to support the NHS. Among them was 2Lt Hodgson who had just joined the company and enjoyed his first taste platoon command. In addition, Sgt Wood was promoted and he took up the role of Pl Sgt with a COVID Support Force (CSF). Interestingly, another 12 members of the company volunteered but as they were all deemed to be Key Workers, were unable to do so.
On return from Ex WARHAMMER and following an extremely quick turn around and a quick wash and shave for CSgt Keeble and the G4 team, the company deployed to Altcar Training Camp to
take part in training package designed
to provide RSOI and maintain the bubble that 4 MERCIAN had created by being in Warcop cut off from the general population. The company personnel were spread across the ORBAT to form part of the CSF operating from Halton Camp, Lancaster. The OC was then seconded to HQNW and employed as the MLO to Cumbria’s Local Resilience Forum working within Cumbria Constabulary HQ.
The ARCs closed to normal physical
training but the military Permanent Staff worked as normal in support to those deployed. Our Regimental Sub Unit Support Officer (RSUSO) CSgt Powell took control of the recruiting across the company AO and maintained virtual communication with all our recruits in the pipeline. The deployment lasted for three months and gradually the troops demobilised and started to return to the ARC with strict Force Health Protection Measures in place. We welcomed some new young officers in 2Lt Roberts and
2Lt Wilson who also was awarded the prestigious Sword of Honour on passing out of RMAS. We also welcomed a few others at this time, Cpl Heaton, who had recently left the Regular Army along with OCdt Durrant who had transferred in from
3 PWRR adding to the growing cohort of young officers within the coy. Sadly, we also said farewell to one of our two PSIs, CSgt Nicholls, who returned to 1 MERCIAN on promotion to WO2. He will be missed by all ranks and was highly respected across the company for his efforts and hard work.
As all training started to resume under the new normal conditions, a few members of the company, Cpls Bird, Wilson and newly promoted LCpl Evans deployed for
a few weeks to provide Permanent Range Team support for Army Training Unit in Strensall to allow recruits to catch up with much needed time on the ranges to get them qualified to pass out of basic training. Operations were still taking place and four members of the company immediately re- mobilised from RESCRIPT on to a 7-month tour on OP CABRIT 7 (Estonia) with 5 RIFLES.
The company has now resumed physical
5 Pl WIDNES During virtual 2-minute silence Sun 08 Nov 20
training, albeit within the guidelines
and restrictions but able to conduct
limited physical lessons and using newly acquired virtual training skills only when absolutely necessary. With some intelligent management and thinking outside the box, this pandemic has not had a major impact on company activities throughout the
year. We have also welcomed back some members who for one reason or another had not attended for some time but felt compelled to help on Op RESCRIPT. We have also recently welcomed a new PSI, CSgt Hoe, and sadly we have said farewell to one of B Coy’s stalwarts, Cpl Bird, who has transferred across to ATU (N) as an instructor but we look forward to seeing him back training with us in the future. We also said a fond goodbye to our RSDC, Cpl Oldham, who deployed out to HQ BATUK in Kenya but has since gone back into the Regular Army and transferred to the Royal Signals, we wish him and his family well. We are shortly to lose our long serving and well respected CSM, WO2 Ward and we wish him well as he moves on to 4 LANCS with the hope that he returns at a later date on commissioning. Finally, we will shortly say farewell to our Mortar PSI, Sgt Barry, who after qualifying has made a hugely positive impact on the Mortar Pl and we are extremely grateful for his efforts, he will be missed by all in Stockport ARC.
CSgt Keeble laying a wreath alongside A Det 207 Fd Hosp at Stockport Townhall
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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