Gents (and ladies!)
As one of the 1 MERCIAN soldiers at the match today, commited Wire fan, and a long time lurker on here, I would first of all like to thank YOU all, for your overwhelming support shown to the families of Marine Steven Birdsall and Private Tom Sefton.
Today was a very emotionally charged day for them, but I can assure you that each and every family member and friend on the pitch today, drew strength and courage from you all, and I have been asked to pass on their thanks to you.
(As a quick response to the comment above, and not meant as a slight in any way, The families were asked by the club if they would like to mark their sons passing with a minutes silence, they prefered to ask if it would be possible to give their sons a minutes applause instead, they wanted the people of Warrington today to know just how proud they were of them both and this was their way of expressing it. The families decided and the club granted them their request.)
Secondly I’d like give our thanks to the Management, Staff and Players of Warrington Wolves whos hospitality, generosity and support today was truly outstanding. Particular mentions must go to Dave Hutchinson - The Clubs Sales and Marketing Controller, who could not have done more for the families, Tony Smith for his kind words and offers of support in the future, and MoM Benny Westwood for coming up and spending time with the families and soldiers when he could have been celebrating in style.
Today in the matchday programme, on page 55, the club has given tribute to these brave young men of Warrington.
In a tragic twist before printing this page had already been set aside for an article on 1 MERCIAN. The soldiers that you saw on the pitch with the families and in the crowds today were to be hosted by the club today in a different set of circumstances.
The club are hopeful that the article will be produced in a later programme but I have included it below.
Once again, Thank you for your support today, you made hairy 4rsed soldiers weep.
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The 1st Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire) – 1 MERCIAN
Today Warrington Wolves play host to a group of recovering British Army soldiers from The 1st Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire) – 1 MERCIAN.
These brave young soldiers have recently returned to the UK due to injuries sustained on operations in Afghanistan.
The Battalion takes its heritage from the 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment, and still draws most of its soldiers from Cheshire, Wirral and the South Greater Manchester area. It is this legacy that makes the Battalion such an effective Unit within the Mercian Regiment.
By drawing men from the same geographical area Mercian soldiers share similar interests and backgrounds, and friends made through training and operations are friends for life. This has created an environment where their soldiers truly feel as brothers in arms, sharing the good times and the bad. It is this atmosphere that makes them 'family'.
The Battalion pride themselves on being a family Battalion in a family Regiment. Within the Battalion there are numerous brothers, cousins, and even uncles and nephews serving alongside each other. It is common for men to follow their fathers into this exceptional Unit.
The 1st Battalion (1 MERCIAN) is based in Catterick, North Yorkshire and is currently deployed on a six month operational tour in Afghanistan on Operation HERRICK 12.
Operations in Afghanistan can be incredibly intense and regrettably soldiers can and do become casualties. The UK military medical facilities in Aghanistan are second to none, injured soldiers are often treated and returned to their units in an amazingly short period of time. Those more seriously injured, such as the soldiers here at the Halliwell Jones Stadium today, are flown back to Military Hospitals the UK where they receive specialist care.
It can sometimes be difficult to reintegrate soldiers back into barrack life following injury. After discharge from hospital soldiers generally go home for a while to recuperate. Soldiers run the risk of operational stress through the pressure of deployment and their possible exposure to extremely traumatic situations and events. It is Army policy that mental health issues be properly recognised and treated, and that all efforts are made to reduce the stigma associated with them.
The Army has a system in place called Trauma Risk Management (TRiM.) It is not a medical process, or therapy - it is designed to identify service personnel at risk after traumatic incidents. Soldiers are often reluctant to talk to strangers when they are in difficulty, and often it is their mates whom they turn to for help. Our soldiers recieve this support through frequent visits from members of the Battalion and the Army Welfare Services, yet despite this for these previously fit and active young men who have grown accustomed to the heat, noise and intensety of battle, this period of relative inactivaty can become incredibly frustrating.
In an attempt to eleviate this the 1 MERCIAN Welfare Office with the help, support and generosity of the people and businesses of Cheshire, try to organise activities for the soldiers where they can come together and once more experience the cameraderie of military life.
In this Warrington Wolves are at the forefront, in hosting the recovering injured soldiers today Warrington Wolves are supporting their transition from battlefield to barracks. By gathering these soldiers together it helps enormously in their recovery, the military culture (‘Squaddie humour’) surrounding them allows them to share their stories and experiences, which helps in coping with their own individual issues and concerns and further strengthens their remarkably positive attitudes.
From all at the 1 MERCIAN family and the soldiers here today we would like to once again thank Warrington Wolves for their generosity and support to the Soldiers and Families of the Battalion.
We here are safe and far from harms way, for those who are serving, but are away from us at the moment we look forward to their safe return.
We live true to the motto of the Mercian Regiment, which is every inch a Rugby League motto - 'Stand Firm, Strike Hard', but also strive to maintain the 22nd (Cheshire) and Warrington Wolves RLFC tradition of being 'Ever Glorious!'.
Our soldiers have been fortunate to take part in activities as varied as, angling – with a current British champion, Narrowboat breaks on the Canals of Cheshire, Guests of Lancashire County Cricket Club, Guests of Chester Racecourse, Sailing trips and more. If you think that you could help in providing an activity or event for the benefit and welfare of the soldiers of 1 MERCIAN, no matter how diverse, then please contact Captain John Elms or Sergeant Alan Boyle at
1mercianwelfare@sky.com Thank you.
1 MERCIAN
