Page 20 - Mercian Eagle 2014

OC Maj Harry Porteous CSM WO2 Rob Muir
2IC Capt Jack Brierley CQMS CSgt Gareth Clements CQMS(T) Sgt Geoghegan
18
Final attack
lasted for nine days. Training was aimed at company level as the platoons had already reached CT1 during the live fire phase. During this time C Company operated out of Radio Sonde Camp, which is essentially a painted white PoW camp. Pte’s Spence and Williams particularly enjoyed manning the gate!
Training areas were in abundance; however there were restrictions due to game
hunting, suicidal Geep (Sheep/Goat) and Cypriot farmers who have a penchant for compensation claims. The exercise was split into three phases, allowing for short but physically demanding exercises, with each day using a new training area for variety.
We steered away from using the HERRICK facilities and instead concentrated on conventional tactics, establishing a company harbour each night in ground that we had
‘taken’ that day. In a windswept Observation Post, Pte Ellis (Recce) got particularly attached to a stray dog and shared his bivvi bag with it for warmth...
The exercise was enhanced by the presence of Lt Luke Riordan, a former platoon commander, who operated as a Range Conducting Officer and then as an observer/mentor and exercise controller. This removed me from the daily running
of training and it allowed me to wrestle
with the ever changing programme. Also
Lt Riordan’s observations were invaluable
to the development of the Company. Unfortunately due to bad weather our beach landing was cancelled and then our planned AT package in Troodos was cancelled due to a blizzard. Which meant we were stranded
in Radio Sonde for some mountain biking, rock climbing, sport and a cultural day in Paphos with Lt Chris ‘Tour Guide’ Parry
who was on loan from A Company. We then returned home with a memorable company photo, thanks to Pte Beswick, just in time for Christmas.
Ex LION SUN afforded C Company
1 MERCIAN an excellent opportunity to train at sub-unit level in a conventional setting
to prepare for our transition to contingency and assumption of the Armoured Infantry role. The weather, climate, terrain and support from all elements of BFC ensured that training was realistic, demanding and rewarding for the Company.
After a complex unit move to Bulford we have begun the herculean task of re-roling the Support Platoons to Armour, whilst qualifying ourselves in the capabilities and weapons the BG will need in 2015. As we tell ourselves now, the British Army only has six Armoured Infantry battalions so
every specialist weapon qualified soldier among us is in shorter supply than the nations’ Typhoon fighters (the RAF have 22!).
We’ve had to say good bye to a number of the Support Coy HQ faithful and we bid
a very fond farewell to WO2 Neil Vickery and CSgt Liam Varley. We wish them well either at 2 MERCIAN or in new challenges ahead. At the same time we’ve welcomed WO2 Rob Muir in as the new CSM who has immediately made his office look like Cieleni village and CSgt Gareth ‘Clem’ Clements as the Dragon Coy CQMS.
D (Dragon) Company
Dragon Coy HQ Eagle
The last twelve months have seen many upheavals in the life of the Support Coy. Before I write about the many exciting challenges we’ve faced, I must first
explain our change of name. As part of
the 1 MERCIAN (Cheshire) Battalion, the Support Coy was just that; the Support Coy for the Bn. We had adopted an unofficial scorpion symbol and used it as our motif. Now as part of the three Bn amalgamation, we’ve been proud to take up the Dragon symbol name and honour as part of the fabric of the Coy. The name has certainly caught on and we are quick to explain
that we are all now indeed Dragons. We understand it originated from the Staffords during a deployment to Hong Kong under British Rule in the late 19th Century and are working on a battlefield tour to re-discover the history for ourselves!
Over the winter of 13/14 we found ourselves supporting three major overseas exercises and keeping our own specialist training standards high. Capt Tim Fisher took a Recce and FSG team to Cyprus and supported C Coy on Ex Lion Sun gaining
some combat training alongside a Rifle Coy. Sgt Larkey stepped up as Pl Sgt for a task to support B Coy on Ex Gaulish Eagle and Capt Brierley took a large Support Weapons team to the Falkland Islands in support of
A Coy. Additionally we deployed to Kenya in support of Ex Askari Storm, getting in some good live firing and
helping BATUK train the
2 RGR BG.
And so came a wet
evening in the old
hangar in Catterick.
As part of the
amalgamation at least
half of the Support
Coy was to move to
2 MERCIAN in Chester. The rest of the Bn had already fallen out and in the gathering evening, as we gathered to parade for the last time together, we remembered the history of the old Cheshire Battalions as we began the final merger. And then it was over, a dash in the rain to the waiting cars and a journey to the next adventure.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
...the British Army only has six Armoured Infantry battalions...