Page 47 - The Bugle 2018

The Officers’ Mess
The Officers’ Mess has maintained a busy programme in the past year whilst scattered across the globe. Despite operational deployments, the Mess has made the most of the social aspects of visits to New Orleans, London and Al-Anbar Province.
With the lion’s share of Officers being in Iraq for Christmas much use was made of the Danish Kuffen (cafe) during down time. It was host to a regular quiz night attended by all and a contentious series of (sometimes Machiavellian) games of Risk. The Lisburn Station Christmas ball was attended by the officers of C Company before their departure to Louisiana on Exercise RATTLESNAKE during which they spent several days sampling the culture of New Orleans. On our return from Iraq some rather eye-catching silk dressing gowns in regimental colours, made in Vietnam during an officer’s rest and recuperation, have become a hallmark of Thiepval Barracks’ most resplendent and tanned residents.
Following the ‘Welcome Home’ parade in Lisburn, the Mess polished up its silver, dusted off its mess dress and girded its loins for some vigorous dancing at the home-coming dinner night, where for the first time in a year the mess was in one place. May and June 2018 saw much of the Officers’ Mess migrate to London as part of the Public Duties Reinforcement Company. Alongside some memorable nights in London much use was made of the Queen’s Guard Officers’ Mess in hosting guests from far and wide; many an Officer enjoyed the memorable experience of taking snuff from a hoof of Napoleon’s horse Marengo.
The Roman Empire themed summer ball reached new heights of choreography this year with Lieutenants Gavin Knox and Nathan Murphy starring in the final of a series of gladiatorial matches at the beginning of the night that included flaming flails, breaking (cardboard) tables and a significant number of slapstick falls. A wide and imaginative range of costumes were present including many centurions and Boudicca’s along with Hannibal’s crossing the Alps.
Over the last year we have wished many a fond farewell, including Majors Vince Mears, Tom Brown, Jack Hancock and Mike Hosegood. Departures amongst the subalterns included Captains Henry Wooton, Harry Sawyers, Robert Prince, Gus O’Brien, Simon Swindells, and Jamie Geddes; Lieutenants George Gillard and Nathan Murphy have left for pastures new at 4 RIFLES taking up posts as Training Team Commanders, whilst Matt Dryburgh has left for the snow-bound tundra of Alberta on attachment to Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry in Edmonton. Arrivals in the mess include Captains Pete Henriques as Regimental Signals Officer, Tom Reynolds as Intelligence Officer and Second Lieutenants Charlie Rex and Tom Lagana as platoon commanders. All of them are sure to be soon introduced to the regular round of outings to Hillsborough, Dublin and Belfast.
Lieutenant Timo Slack
Officer Commanding 1 Platoon
THE MESS POLISHED UP ITS SILVER, DUSTED OFF ITS MESS DRESS AND GIRDED
ITS LOINS FOR SOME VIGOROUS DANCING AT THE HOME- COMING DINNER NIGHT
Some of the Officers’ Mess in Iraq trying their best to look bronzed and massive
Officers and Senior NCOs of C Company on parade with the least polished boots ever to have been seen on Wellington Barracks’ parade square during public duties in London
The Battalion 2IC with his slaves at the summer ball
THE RIFLES
SECOND BATTALION 53