Return of the heroes
Hundreds of soldiers who fought side by side with the Afghan National Army during some of the fiercest fighting ever seen in Helmand Province are to parade through Mansfield on Wednesday 17 March.
Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters), who returned from a six-month tour of Afghanistan in September will exercise their right to the Freedom of the Borough, led by the Regimental mascot, Private Derby.
The Battalion took part in heavy fighting during their six month tour and engaged many times with the enemy. They were responsible for the training and mentoring of the Afghan National Army, giving them the skills they need to enable them to take over responsibility for security, stability and reconstruction and improve the day-to-day lives of the Afghan people.
Whilst this training was being conducted, two Rifle companies, each of 110 men, took the fight direct to the Taliban playing a leading role in Operation Panther's Claw.
The people of Mansfield and surrounding areas from which 2 MERCIAN recruit are invited to line the routes that the 300 soldiers will parade along, led by their Regimental Mascot, Private Derby.
The soldiers will step off from Bridge Street at 1430hrs. They will march to the Market Place past Regent Street and onto Westgate before continuing along Chesterfield Road and finishing at the Civic Centre.
The parade is a chance for the military to thank the town for their support during what proved to be a tough tour of Afghanistan.
The Battalion's Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Colin Marks said: "These events are ideal opportunities for friends and families to welcome home 2 MERCIAN after a demanding operational tour.
"We have been overwhelmed by the support we received from the people of Worcestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire for their Regiment and this is our way of showing our appreciation to them."
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
2 MERCIAN Battlegroup was a team and consisted of 395 2 MERCIAN soldiers and individuals drawn from 44 other units from across the British Army. Almost every British Army Corps and Regiment was represented. While deployed in Helmand 2 MERCIAN Battlegroup achieved the following:
2 MERCIAN Battlegroup deployed in small teams into 28 different security force bases across Helmand Province; the deployment area was 150km north-south and 60km east-west. Our teams often worked in isolation from other Coalition Forces but always alongside Warriors of the Afghan National Army. Teams were typically nine to eleven men strong:
- A single team of nine to eleven men from the Battlegroup lived alongside and supported a 100-man Afghan National Army Company in battle.
- A 45-man company comprising a Headquarters and four teams from the Battlegroup lived alongside and supported a 500-man Afghan National Army Battalion in battle.
- The 395 men of the Battlegroup lived alongside and supported a 6000-man Afghan National Army Brigade that included infantry, artillery, engineers and reconnaissance forces.
Teams from the Battlegroup with their Afghan National Army charges have taken part in every major combat operation in Helmand Province between March and September 2009. Including Operation PANTHER'S CLAW, July-August 2009, where 600 ANA Warriors were mentored by MERCIAN Operational and Mentoring Liaison Teams.
2 MERCIAN soldiers have also supported other missions outside of the OMLT role:
- 220 MERCIAN soldiers deployed with A (Grenadier) and B Companies in the light infantry role. These companies took part in much of the heaviest fighting of the summer including Operation PANTHER'S CLAW.
- A platoon of 30 MERCIAN soldiers, Ava Platoon, provided force protection for British Combat Logistic Patrols (CLPs).
- 25 MERCIAN soldiers were selected to serve with the elite Brigade Reconnaissance Force. The Force was commanded by a MERCIAN officer.
- Two teams were trained as specialist Forward Air Controllers coordinating helicopter and fast jet support to operations.