7 minute read
Support Hub Update
WARRANT OFFICERS’ AND SERGEANTS’ MESS UPDATE
Warrant Officer Class 2 (RQMS) Roder (President of the Mess Committee)
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Up to the point that COVID-19 reduced the world to a standstill, the WOs’ and Sgts’ Mess had been enjoying a period of high activity. Multiple old faces left the mess and some fresh-faced, keen youngsters joined. Of exceptional note and with some sadness we dined out the following RTR Legends: Capt Johnson, Capt Macbeth, WO1 Causer, WO1 Simon and SSgt Hopkins. You will all be missed from Mess life and are welcome back any time.
RSM, RQs, and SSMs (2019 pre-stick change) WO2 (SSM) Edwards enjoying the Scorpion Race
OFFICERS VS. SENIORS FOOTBALL
I will start with some controversy and report that for the first time in decades the Officers’ Mess won the annual football match. Some very dodgy refereeing and what some would call “outright cheating” by the officers secured them a 3-2 victory in a very hard-fought game. This was followed by us being welcomed into the Officers’ Mess in Christmas jumpers to listen to the officers’ heroics. In particular, Maj Rooney (OC EGYPT) continually telling us the story of his 18-yard diving header, when in reality he tripped on his laces three yards from the goal and the ball struck him in the face before dribbling over the line. Revenge this year will be sweet.
THE GREAT FLOOD OF 2019
At some point over the summer leave period, the Officers’ Mess decided that turning their ante room into an indoor swimming pool would be a good idea. The subsequent flood caused substantial damage rendering the officers homeless. Being the gracious, warmhearted and accommodating people that the Sgts’ Mess are, we rescued the refugees and had them dine with us for the next three months. This proved to be a great way to make the bond between our messes stronger and forged new friendships between seniors and officers from different squadrons that would not normally have contact; although towards the end of the three months it was becoming difficult to listen to yet another Sandhurst dit.
STICK CHANGE
January 2020 saw a new RSM. WO1 Harley Upham handed over the stick of power to WO1 (RSM) Richardson; a new opportunity and role for Harley to sink his teeth into as 1 Brigade Sergeant Major. We have no doubt he will make the role his own, taking the good name of the RTR with him. All mess members would like to thank Harley for his hard work, excellent leadership and support that he gave the mess during his two years as the badge. The dine out for WO1 Upham had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 situation but will happen as soon as restrictions on social events are lifted.
CHARITY EVENT
The Regiment took part in the Scorpion Race, a 6-mile cross country obstacle course on Salisbury Plain Training Area. As it was for charity, the Mess rallied to field as many members as possible, led from the front by WO2 (SSM) Edwards. A fun event enjoyed by all, with the proceeds going towards Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a cause close to the RTR’s heart. Scotty’s Little Soldiers is a charity dedicated to caring for the children of the fallen.
MESS IMPROVEMENTS
The Mess decoration has been a constantly changing beast. This has been a result of the hard work and dedication of the SNCOs within the mess; in particular, Sgt Dicks, Sgt Wood, DMaj Daulby, PMaj Willoughby, Sgt Rayner and Sgt Teece. The outstanding look and feel of the mess has been mentioned by numerous visitors.
As with the rest of the world, the mess is looking forward to some form of normality returning, so we can open our doors and welcome guests back again soon.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Mess has the remainder of the year to look forward to with Cambrai, a boxing night and Christmas celebrations already in the calendar.
As ever, the year will end with Officers Vs SNCOs football before welcoming the Officers into our Mess.
CORPORALS’ MESS UPDATE
The CO and RSM join the Corporals’ Mess for their 2019 function
For the Cpls Mess, 2019 ended with a much-anticipated function at Test Valley Golf Course. Attendance and spirits were high, and we enjoyed some great entertainment from the hired band.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY – RTR PADRE
Reverend K J Adoplhe
If you’ve ever looked at an American soldier’s uniform, you’ll have noticed that it seems like they have their flag on their sleeves the wrong way around. You’d imagine that the stars bit should be at the rear, but they wear it towards the front. The explanation for this is that if you’re holding the flag by a pole and running, then the flag would billow out behind you. They don’t want to appear like they are running away, so they wear it that way around, as if they were running towards an enemy, not away.
This got me thinking about our own rank slide. We all know what the three Royal Tank Regiment colours – brown, red and green – stand for: from the mud, through the blood, to the green fields beyond. Yet, when we wear our rank slides on our shoulders, we have brown, the mud at the front. It looks like we are heading towards the mud, and not towards the green fields. Psalm 23, The Lord is My Shepherd, is very well known, and yet I find it can annoy me a little bit. It seems to be promising that if I allow God to be my shepherd then everything will be fine. And I know that that simply isn’t true. The promise of green fields, gentle babbling brooks and massive feasts, simply doesn’t reflect my experience of life, and certainly not my experience of life in the Army. Thankfully other parts of the Bible are a bit more realistic. They acknowledge that life is hard, that often life is about sweat, blood and tears. As a Christian minister I have a hope that one day wars will cease, strivings will end and all will be at peace. Yet I know that in the here and now I am often called to be in the dirt and the grime of real life. The Bible talks about pressing on, about being like an athlete focussed on winning the race, and every Christmas we hear the story of God coming to earth, not as an all-powerful king, but as an illegitimate baby, born in a barn, to a single teenage mother. It doesn’t really surprise me, therefore, that we wear brown towards the front; that we are heading towards the mud and the blood. There’s nothing at all wrong with desiring to be at rest in a lush green field, and we all need to recognise when we need down-time. But as soldiers, we, like our forebears before us, are often called to be the people who don’t shy away from our responsibility to be in amongst it, in the mud and the blood; whether that’s the metaphorical muddiness of life, or the reality of muddy, bloody, conflict. Never lose focus on those green fields, those things you long for, the rest that we all need. But never either forget the example of those who went before us, knowing that sometimes the painful, muddy, bloody path is the one which we have been called to tread.
As always, some incredible prizes were up for grabs and there were many happy faces on the coaches returning to Tidworth. Neil, the head of hospitality and catering at the course, was so impressed he invited us back, hopefully creating a partnership that can carry on in the future!
As we entered 2020, the mess was thriving: tea and toast was a regular event, pizza and pub themed nights (included some light-hearted darts) and pool competitions were all up and running. Sadly, COVID-19 has put a stop to much of this, but the mess has remained a place of camaraderie and support.
Recruiting into the mess is now our focus and we encourage the newly promoted LCpls and attached arms to join. Social distancing measures are in place, and the mess is still a fun and inclusive club. Hopefully, we will see the membership grow after the Tprs board results are announced.
