His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, Colonel-in-Chief of 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment (1Mercian), has visited the unit at their headquarters in Bulford, Wiltshire.
All of our team have really enjoyed having HRH here today. Each time he visits, whether it’s been here or when we’ve been in Estonia, we’ve really got a lot from our interaction, it provides a real morale boost for everyone.
This follows The Prince’s visit to 1 Mercian in Estonia last year during their six-month deployment to the region on Operation Cabrit – the UK’s contribution to NATO’s Forward Land Forces in Estonia and Poland.
Major James McNeil, Officer Commanding C Company, 1 Mercian, said:
“All of our team have really enjoyed having HRH here today. Each time he visits, whether it’s been here or when we’ve been in Estonia, we’ve really got a lot from our interaction, it provides a real morale boost for everyone.”
About 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment
1 Mercian is a regular armoured infantry battalion based at Bulford Camp on Salisbury Plain. They form part of the 12th Armoured Brigade Combat Team. Formed in 2007, it recruits from the Midlands and is nicknamed "The Heart of England's Infantry,"
He was genuinely interested in the lived experience of the female soldiers within the British Army and how and what he can do to improve that moving forward. You could tell that he was interested in what we were saying.”
Supporting women in the Armed Forces
As part of the visit, His Royal Highness joined a conversation with the regiment’s female network, giving him the opportunity to hear directly about their experiences of being a woman in the Armed Forces.
Captain Maria Bell, Head of 1 Mercian Female Network, said:
“He was genuinely interested in the lived experience of the female soldiers within the British Army and how and what he can do to improve that moving forward. You could tell that he was interested in what we were saying.”
Understanding the role
The Prince later observed personnel in the urban training facility, where they are trialling and experimenting with drones in urban combat. His Royal Highness saw a demonstration of urban drills and was given the opportunity to get involved.
Major James McNeil explained:
“HRH viewed the infantry demonstrations. This involved an inflatable system which simulates an eastern European trench layout. The Prince was able to see and use our drones so that he could experience how we train with this capability and how we train against them too.
“The last time he came out to visit us in Estonia, he was able to see what we were doing in trenches. We’ve brought the lessons learnt back and adapted them into the UK space. He’s really keen to understand what the infanteer deals with at the point of contact.”
During his visit, The Prince also met with families of personnel at a coffee morning in the Officers’ Mess and later presented Long Service and Good Conduct medals to soldiers.
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