2 MERCIAN Foreword
by Lieutenant Colonel C R Marks, Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment
In November last year, the final 2nd Battalion force elements, A and B Companies, returned from Afghanistan and so another chapter in the Battalion’s history drew to a close. Operation Herrick 10 was a very successful tour - though not without its heavy price. Five of the Battalion’s finest sons fell in Afghanistan this time round: Lance Corporal Kieron Hill was killed in action on 21st May 2009, Private Robby Laws was killed in action on 4th July 2009, Private Jason Williams was killed in action on 8th August 2009, Private Gavin Elliott was killed in action on 3rd September 2009 and Sergeant Mike Lockett MC was killed in action on 21st September 2009. Their names live for evermore and we will remember them. Their families are in our thoughts daily.
After some well-earned Christmas leave, the Battalion stood-to in early January. Initially, our focus was on regenerating D (F Sp) Company’s support weapons capability and rehabilitating the most seriously wounded. The latter task was no mean feat as only four of the forty four casualties evacuated from theatre to the UK made it back to Afghanistan during the tour. However, the MERCIAN spirit is strong and I’m proud to report that, as of today, only nine soldiers are sick at home with the vast majority now back in Belfast with their friends.
The first major event this year was the Battalion’s Homecoming Tour. In March, we exercised our freedom to parade through fifteen towns and boroughs across the East and West Midlands and it was truly inspirational to see the level of public support which we received. The tour started off with a march through Long Eaton then proceeded to Ilkeston, Oldbury, Retford, Kidderminster, Bewdley, Glossop, Ripley, Newark, Southwell, Mansfield, Ashbourne, Matlock and Chesterfield; it concluded in Redditch where we received the Freedom of the Borough. All in all, it was a fantastic two weeks. The tour
30 October 2010
was made all the more special when Operational Honours List Number 34 was announced on 19th March. The Battalion received an unprecedented number of awards on this list, the highlights of which were: the award of Officer of the Order of the British Empire to former Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Simon Banton, the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross to Sergeants Marc Giles and Alan Dennis and Lance Corporal Smith, the award of the Military Cross to Major Neil Grant, Captain Ed Brown, Corporal Pip Adkin and Private Alex Kennedy, Mention in Despatches to Captain Duncan Hadland, Warrant Officer Class 2 Paul Muckle and Sergeant Andrew McNulty and the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service to Captain Mike Brigham. The following individuals received the Joint Commanders’ Commendation for service in Afghanistan as well: Major Paddy Ginn, Capt Damian Bailey, Capt Stuart Dixon, Corporals Matthew Bannister and Carl Spencer, Lance Corporal Lee Waite and Private Oliver Bryant. By the time the Tour concluded and, in addition to all of the above, members of the Battalion had also unveiled the names of the fallen on Operation Herrick 10 at the Regimental Memorial at Crich, visited eleven schools and colleges, spent a day at a Mosque in Nottingham as guests of the Imam and played Derby Veterans’ Rugby Team (and won).
Easter leave concluded with a bang when dissident Republicans attacked the Palace Barracks Main Entry Point just before midnight on Sunday 11th April. Thankfully, no one was injured in the bomb blast which caused extensive damage to the Security Lodge and I’m pleased to report that morale remains high among the families who have been stoic in response. Between Easter and summer stand-down, the Battalion uplifted its digital communications system to the latest software (BCIP 5.4) and Battlegroup Headquarters completed Combined Arms Staff Training in Catterick. At the same
time, the Companies conducted low level training as part of Block 1 of Campaign FORM concentrating on mandatory annual tests including implementation of the Army’s (new) Operational Shooting Policy. Each Rifle Company also managed to conduct adventurous training outside the province with A Company running multi- activities in Tenby and Castlemartin, B Company adventurous training at Camp Halton and C Company training at Capel Curig. Additionally, members of D (F Sp) Company went rock climbing in Spain, a number of individuals went scuba diving in Belize and a group from A Company managed another week away, freefall parachuting in Germany.
Post summer leave, B Company Group assumed its Spearhead Lead Element commitment in support of 3 SCOTS and preparations started in earnest for the Battalion’s deployment to Kenya between September and November on Ex Askari Thunder, the successor to Ex Grand Prix which many will remember fondly, I’m sure. This promises to be an excellent training opportunity, especially after nine months spent in barracks. The major difference from its predecessor is the Hybrid Warfare scenario which reflects the realities of contemporary operations in the current strategic climate. That said, the exercise still includes plenty of realistic and relevant live firing in a demanding environment and I know that everyone is up for the challenge. Thereafter, before Christmas, we should find out what rôle the Battalion will fulfil on Operation Herrick 15 starting in autumn next year. Regardless of what that might be, we will continue to Stand FIRM and Strike HARD until ordered otherwise and, with that in mind, we have come full circle from where this Foreword started a year ago. Thank you to everyone in our extended Regimental family who continues to support us so generously: when next in Belfast, make sure that you drop in and say hello.
The Mercian Eagle
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