Page 79 - AGC Journal 2018

AGC JOURNAL 2018

Memorial Walk for

Captain Carl Magin

By Captain Anthony Myers

The aim of this walk was to raise awareness of the great work that Scotty’s
Little Soldiers do to support bereaved British Forces Children.

Raising a drink
to Carl at the
Finish Line in
Captain Carl Magin I could arrange some accommodation for the evening. I tried Chepstow
my luck in a few hotels but everywhere was booked up, just as

Carl originally joined the Army in 1986 and worked his way I was about to give up I was offered a free pint and a garden to
through the ranks before he commissioned as a Late Entry pitch my tent in by a kind local resident. Before I knew it, it was

Officer in 2012. I first met Carl when he joined us at 2 Signal One o’clock in the morning, I’d consumed at least ten pints of

Regiment as our Regimental Administration Officer in 2016 Wye Valley Ale and I was struggling to put up a tent in some

and spent 18 months working closely with him as part of team bloke’s back yard.
‘Lad and Dad’. During this time, I found that under the grumpy
exterior, Carl was an inspirational leader who cared deeply for
all those under his command. As I’m sure most readers of this
Journal are aware, Carl sadly passed away in September 2017,
leaving behind his loving wife Jayne and sons Jack and George.
Idea for the Walk
A couple of months after his passing, I knew that I wanted
to do something in memory of Carl and I decided to walk
from Hereford to Chepstow following the River Wye. I Anthony Myers
called Jayne to explain my plan and asked if she wanted and Carl Magin
in Glasgow

me to raise money for a specific charity. Jayne asked me to
raise money for Scotty’s Little Soldiers as they had provided
lots of support to her two boys since Carl’s passing and she
believed in the work they were doing. Monmouth to Chepstow
Hereford to Ross-on-Wye Enjoying the I woke up wrapped in my dismantled tent with
sunshine in
Herefordshire a small but noticeable headache from the
I started the day outside Hereford Cathedral, the sun was previous night’s refreshments. After stuffing

shining, I had fresh legs and my rucksack which was filled away all my belongings I started my last day,
with spare clothes, food, a tent and a sleeping bag hadn’t yet which didn’t involve as many meanders as
started to feel heavy. Whilst taking the obligatory start of walk

selfie, I got chatting to a cyclist and told him what I was doing. the river was now wide and flowing straight

He insisted on buying me a morning coffee to fuel my walk towards the Severn Estuary. The route was also
which I gladly accepted, I’d walked a total of 800 yards and a lot shorter than the previous two days and

had already received a freebie, Carl would have been proud. Anthony Myers and I only had to cover 16 miles to finish the walk.
After a lovely cuppa I started the walk in earnest and the miles Carl Magin enjoying The last few miles of the walk took me through
passed with ease. It was nice to walk down the quiet River Wye a beer in the Officers’ ancient woodland before giving me a sneak

on a hot day, occasionally taking a break and just watching Mess preview of Chepstow Castle, which spurred me

the world go by. I made it to Ross-on-Wye around 4 p.m. and on. I finally made it into Chepstow around 4
explored the town for a while before checking in to my free p.m. and raised a glass (bottle) to toast to Carl
room at the Penyard House Hotel. outside the Castle.
Ross-on-Wye to Monmouth Endnote
Day two started with a full English breakfast which I consumed The walk raised over £1,300 for Scotty’s Little
without the usual guilt as I was actually planning on burning Soldiers which will help the charity to keep
the calories for once. I set off relatively early as I didn’t want supporting bereaved British Forces Children. I

to rush today’s journey. Compared to the first day I took a lot would like to thank everybody that donated, I’d
more breaks and enjoyed the scenery instead of just ploughing like to thank Penyard House Hotel for providing
through it. The weather was great again but I’d forgotten to food and accommodation when I was in Ross-
pack some sun lotion which resulted in me turning a lovely
shade of red before noon. I also began to develop some envy Oktoberfest on-Wye and I’d also like to thank Carl for all the
of the various canoeists who effortlessly floated passed me on At the Races. Anthony in 2 Signal opportunities he gave his Detachment during

Regiment
the river near Symonds Yat, whilst I trudged through the long Myers, Damien Hames, Offi cers’ Mess his time in York with 2 Signal Regiment.
Robb Fulton, Carl Magin
grass. I reached the Welsh border around 3 p.m. and picked up
the pace to ensure I reached Monmouth in good time so that Rest in Peace Carl
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