Page 25 - Mercian Eagle 2014

Headquarter Company
OC Maj D Hallam CSM WO2 P Barnett CQS CSgt C Lavelle
Headquarter Company have had a busy and challenging year from supporting the battalion whether on exercise making sure we are operationally aware and ready, to the normal mundane tasks that come with the day to day running of camp .
The company has seen a few recent changes since the last edition, the handover from Maj Fletcher who is in his last couple of months before his retirement after 36 years of service; we wish him all the best
for the future. Maj Hallam who has taken over the role of Officer Commanding
arrived after completing 2 years as The Quartermaster of the 2nd Battalion. WO2 Budd has handed over reins to WO2
McCauley who wasn’t in the chair for more then 3 months before receiving redundancy. Headquarter Company’s current CSM is WO2 Barnett who arrived from 4 MERCIAN. Last but not least the CQMS has also changed over from CSgt Norm Bates, who has now left the Army after 26 years of service, and we would like to wish him all the best. The new CQMS is CSgt Lavelle.
Over the past 6 months the Company has moved to Bulford from Catterick, this time has been demanding and challenging at best. Getting all the stores and equipment boxed away and the close down of accommodation all require patience and time. All equipment was Stored into 5 large
ISO containers, the stores and personal equipment made it to Bulford in one piece thankfully. The very last thing to leave was the weapons under the eye of CSM.
During this transition period and
officially on the 1st of September 2014 the 3 MERCIAN battalions merged into to 2. This has been a tough task with the split and separation to Bulford for 1 MERCIAN and Chester for 2 MERCIAN. All 3 battalions have worked together to make this task as easy as possible and without diligent QM’s, RQMS and CQMSs, the task would have been very difficult for Headquarter Company and the battalion as a whole.
success with the first competitive fixture resulting in a 1-1 draw with 14 RA. We have large representation in the Bn rugby team which is coached by the ASM and will represent the Bn in a plethora of other sports no doubt.
In summary, the hard-work has really just begun for the LAD but particular praise must go to SSgts Waters and Martin, and Cpl Newstead for their hard-work and assistance they have provided the LAD and wider Bn. BATUS in 2015 will be our greatest challenge but there is lots of work to be done before we are capable of the high level of support that we expect to provide.
Arte Et Marte
1 MERCIAN LIGHT AID DETACHMENT (REME)
The past year, and in particular the last 6 months, have seen considerable change
for the wider Battalion and this has been reflected in the LAD. As a result of the re-role the LAD will consist of 1 + 64 to enable each Company to have integral Equipment Support (ES) on deployment. This has meant that considerable up-scaling of personnel across all ranks is required, and although not complete, the manning is approaching 80%.
The AQMS was formerly of 1 ROYAL ANGLIAN so was already in position as the advance parties arrived. The ASM arrived
in the summer to assist with the in-load of BUF from various sources and the ET/STTE from the former 3 MERCIAN in Germany. They guided the LAD and Bn through the initial re-role until I arrived in September and we have continued to use our experience to continue to progress as a sub-unit.
The ORs within the LAD have seen their numbers swell too, for instance there will
be 7 SSgts on strength when fully manned compared to just 1 for a Light Role Bn. Long hours have been required to enable the BUF to be quickly up to scratch with the limited resources and manpower available but we have not been found wanting. The technical infrastructure of the LAD is a work in progress as there is currently no static crane lift, the light is of poor quality and there is no extraction of air-lines for power tools. Although there are plans to upgrade the real estate this is not likely to happen in the short term and we must therefore rely on our vehicle assets to assist – SVR and WR 512 in particular.
Despite all this work the LAD has already started to enjoy its greater manning by having a LAD football team in the Army Western Premier League. Our ‘bumblebee’ kit singles us out but we have enjoyed quick
EME Capt R Wood ASM WO1 T Nelson AQMS WO2 M James
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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