Page 48 - The Bugle 2018

WO1(RSM) Parsons trying not to tense his biceps
Colour Serjeant Sullivan got confused when the camera man shouted cheese
Colour Serjeant Hensby just before his jaw dropping dance moves cleared the mess
A PRIZE DRAW WHERE NO ONE EVEN NOTICED THE ORGANIZER WON A PRIZE
The Mess, like the rest of the Battalion, has had a busy start to the year. In January WO2 Andy Benbow organized an ‘80’s and beyond weekend’. This was a fancy-dress event which welcomed back Mess members who had been deployed to Iraq on Operation SHADER. There was a whole host of costume ideas but the most questionable has to be Serjeant Karl Burr who came as ‘Baywatch’ only minus the abs, he had clearly misunderstood ‘Op Massive’. It was a fantastic evening which got the bulk of the Mess together; it also gave WO1 (RSM) Rob Parsons an opportunity to re-use his go to ‘John McLane’ from Die Hard costume. The evening was finished off with a prize draw where no one even noticed the organizer won a prize.
We have also seen the hand over takeover of the Regimental Serjeant Major. WO1 (RSM) Rob Parsons handed over to WO1 (RSM) Tony Bramham. To mark the end of his tenure the Mess descended on Newcastle with WO2 (RQMS) Sharrock granted a once in a lifetime pass to attend. The ‘deployment’ started off extremely well: all SNCO’s turned up on time and in good order. A few of the more ambitious members even turned up a day early and conducted a recce on behalf of the main body. However, these older ‘Mess members’, who will remain nameless, had their confidence dented when
they were mistaken for the Newcastle
upon Tyne bowls team. This was
apparently nothing to do with their
Ken Barlow-style blazer & jean
combos issued on conversion
to WO1. Never the less they pickeduptheirdentedpride
and helped send WO1
(RSM) Rob Parsons to the
4 RIFLES welfare office
in style. It was even
rumoured that at one
point he nearly bought
a round; but in good
2 RIFLES style WO2
Tommy Turner stepped in
with a bottle of champagne
to save the day.
This then led to the joint dine in of the new 2 RIFLES RSM, WO1 (RSM) Tony Branham, and the dining out of the Northern Ireland Garrison Support Unit (NIGSU) GSM, WO1 (GSM) Alan Green. This was a joint regimental dinner between 2 RIFLES and NIGSU to welcome in the new RSM and GSM; the evening was also used to create stronger ties between both Messes. It got under way with the outgoing GSM in charge of the speeches. The now 2 RIFLES Welfare Officer got off to a fine start, and got through the night with no major hiccups. His comments about ‘Green Dragon’ however nearly made him, his own first welfare case. He then handed over to the 2 RIFLES RSM, who in the heat of the moment was back at the Infantry Battle School and directing staff on Platoon Commander Battle course; he addressed his audience with enthusiasm, which was met by gasps, because the majority of the Mess did not appreciate the quality of his ‘Brecon point’. It would also be a useful time to mention that Colour Serjeant Slingsby still owes a bottle of port for his incorrect dress on the evening.
The Mess has also been through a major transition, as after the success of the Regimental Dinner the Messes formed a joint committee. This has proved at times a challenge, but in true Rifles style everyone adapted and has started driving the joint venture forward, while ensuring all the traditions of our former regiments have not been lost. Over the next few months the Warrant Officers’ and Serjeants’ Mess has its members spread across the globe. With people in the Falkland Islands, Jordan and later on in the year in Sierra Leone, the Mess will be half full of
Chosen Men until Christmas.
WO2 Long
President of the Mess
Committee
The Warrant Officers’ and Serjeants’ Mess
WO2 (CSM) Long and his date WO2 (CSM) Tiffany Turner
54 SECOND BATTALION
THE RIFLES