Page 27 - Example Journals

The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons 2015
Obituary Sergeant Mark Colin Foley Served 1999 – 2014
Mark ‘Axle’ Foley joined 23 Platoon
Burma Company, Army Training
Regiment Harrogate in January 1999.
Axle was quick to establish himself as
a lively character and his humour was
hard for most to grasp at rst. His banter
would often raise eyebrows amongst some
of the more ruthless jokers in the platoon.
Throughout training Axle was the life and
soul of the party and would help any of
the boys regardless of the task in hand. He
was a joy to be around even through the
harshest of exercises and would often be
the centre of pranks to keep morale high.
His passion for Hull FC Rugby Club was
there for all to see. There wasn’t a day went
by when he wouldn’t sit and bore people
for hours on the possibilities of Hull FC
becoming champions. Basic training was
where Axle rst showed his true love for
Kelly through the constant Jeremy Kyle
conversations he would hold for hours every night keeping everyone in the lines awake. “Hi Margaret, it’s Mark! Is Kelly there?” was the trademark call and you knew it was time to don the ear defence.
In January 2000 Axle passed out of Phase 1 into Montgomery Platoon and began his transformation into a cavalry soldier at Bovington. Here he got to know others who were on the same journey and they quickly became good friends. Mark excelled at everything he did; having the biggest head in NATO certainly gave him the biggest brain and he breezed through the basics of cavalry soldiering with ease. He stood out from most, not because of his oblong shaped body but because he could interact and change character to suit every requirement.
Axle ew out to Germany in June 2000 with Mark Pearce a childhood friend with whom he had also gone through basic training. In Admin Troop A Sqn he quickly settled into Regimental life. It was clear from the off Axle was going to be a big hit, not from his size but due to his ability to quickly learn and adapt to life in a sabre squadron. Axle also began playing rugby for the Regiment and continued to do so throughout his career, particularly rugby league.
Axle’s rst deployment was to Bosnia in 2000 as a driver in GW Troop, a job he loved as it gave him a daily dose of rim- ming. Axle did many a tour; two in Bosnia, one in Kosovo, two in Iraq and three in Afghanistan and he excelled in each role he undertook.
Mark was an avid plane spotter, which is why he chose a career path as an FAC. He completed two tours of Afghanistan as an FAC, rstly on Op HERRICK 10 attached to the RIFLES in Sangin DC, a very tough tour which saw its fair share of casualties. The second was on HERRICK 16 as the TACP 2IC attached to GREN GUARDS in FOB PRICE. He pro-
vided timely and succinct information to his commander, be it a brigadier or second lieutenant. He always had a smile on his face and just got on with the job in hand regardless of the situation he was facing.
Axle was a true professional with a very strong character and gave everything he had to whatever was put in front of him. His strong character is one of the reasons he came through his PTSD so well after being blown up on HERRICK 6 and all that he witnessed on HERRICK 10. He identi ed the requirement to go and share this with others and because of this came out at the other side even stronger than before. This was a true testament to his character and strength as a soldier and a man.
Axle always had time for others and always took the lead in introducing himself to newcomers. Trips to Canada, Cyprus and Alaska produced some very interesting stories. In Alaska a visit to a Hicksville log cabin pub in the middle of some woods saw Axle rigged out in his best carrot top jeans, Converse trainers and a checked shirt, worn open, over a sequinned T-shirt. Needless to say he received plenty of attention from the local female population! He was enjoying his popularity until he heard one of the girls, as she was leaving the dance oor announce, “OMG, I just danced with a GAY guy!” His version of Shamu the killer whale was a sight to draw in the crowds, especially the children on a beach in Cyprus. He positioned himself in the water in such a way that water squirted from his mouth appeared to
be coming from a blow hole in his belly.
As sad and tragic as it is to lose Axle, he will always be remembered for having a smile on his face. He would never take anything too seriously: even when being treated for PTSD he would wind his counsellor up by telling her tales about his childhood so she would feel sorry for him and suggest other treatments available, only for Axle to then tell her at the end of the session that he was teasing her about everything.
Mark was a devoted father and husband: his wife Kelly and two daughters Emily and Hannah were everything to him. In this respect he was a role model to us all. I don’t think I have ever seen children dote as much on their father as Emily and Hannah do. The girls are so much like their dad that he will forever live on through them.
The Regiment has lost a massive character, friend and role model and will forever be missed by those who held him
dear.
NSR
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