Rayleigh and Wickford MP and Armed Forces Minister, Mark Francois, who served as a TA Infantry Officer in the Cold War recently paid a visit to the Headquarters of his old Regiment in Bury St Edmunds, to see how what is now the Army Reserve is developing in the 21st Century.
In the 1980’s Mark served as a Platoon Commander in the 5th (Volunteer) Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment, the Local Infantry Regiment that covers the counties of East Anglia, including Essex. In those days, the battalion in which Mark served was earmarked to go to West Germany to support what was then the British Army of the Rheine (BAOR) in the event of a major conflict with the Warsaw Pact.
The modern Royal Anglian Regiment now comprises two regular battalions, the First and Second, and the Third (Army Reserve) Battalion, headquartered in Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, but which still has a company based at Chelmsford in Essex and into which the heritage of the old 5th Battalion has now been transferred.
Mark visited the Battalion headquarters at Bury St Edmunds and met with the Commanding Officer of 3 Royal Anglian, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Morris, who briefed him on the Battalions order of battle and its efforts to recruit additional soldiers to join the Army Reserve. Anyone in Essex who is interested in joining the Royal Anglians might consider joining Three Company of the Battalion, who are based at Springfield Army Reserve Centre just off the A12, on the edge of Chelmsford and can be contacted on 01245 462301, or via http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/24653.aspx.
Commenting on his visit Mark Francois said:
"I greatly enjoyed my time in the TA and so it was good to go back and visit my old regiment in their new incarnation. We are very proud of the service that the Royal Anglians have given in recent years, including in Iraq and Afghanistan, and during which a number of soldiers in what was the TA were mobilised to take part in those operations as well. Serving in the Reserves, was a very enjoyable part of my life and I would encourage anyone who has spare time and wants to serve their country to consider joining the Army Reserve which is a fulfilling second career and can help earn some money as well."