Local heroes renew links with the Derbyshire Dales
25 January 2010
On behalf of the Mercian Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Nick Turner was presented with the title of Honorary Freeman of the District of Derbyshire Dales at a special ceremony at Matlock Town Hall on Thursday evening (21 January).
Lieutenant Colonel Turner stressed the importance of the regiment’s connection with the Dales. “It is an enormous privilege to be granted the Freedom of any organisation,” he said, “but this is particularly special for us with our links to this area and a history dating back to the 1800s where we evolved from the 95th Regiment to the Sherwood Foresters to the Worcestershire & Sherwood Foresters and now to the Mercian Regiment. It is an enormous privilege to carry on that tradition and those links.
“Renewing links is important because we recruit very heavily from this area and therefore it is imperative we have the support of organisations such as Derbyshire Dales District Council.”
The District Council’s powers to honour a distinguished unit of the Forces extends to a military unit being given the freedom to march through the streets of the district – and this will happen in Matlock town centre on Friday 19 March this year.
“One of the privileges accorded to a regiment given a Freedom of a district is that it can march with bayonets fixed, colours flying and band playing – if you don’t have the Freedom you are not allowed to do that,” said Lieutenant Colonel Turner.
Commenting on the Mercian Regiment’s involvement in conflict zones around the world such as Afghanistan and Iraq, he added: “Morale is remarkably good in the regiment. We are a well established county regiment with good links to people who are recruited from the area.
“It is a desperate situation when we have a casualty or bereavement – in fact it is like a family bereavement because we are part of the regimental family, so we mourn privately. But the soldiers are magnificent. They are galvanised into action and carry on doing the task they have been set and it never fails to amaze me how strong morale is and how strong recruiting remains.”
Chairman of Derbyshire Dales District Council, Councillor Geoff Stevens said: “On behalf of the people of the Dales the District Council was delighted to demonstrate our appreciation for the continuing bravery and sacrifice of our soldiers around the world.
“Honouring a regiment whose origins in this area can be traced back 270 years was absolutely the right thing to do and I hope the relationship between the Mercian Regiment and the people of the Derbyshire Dales is now stronger than ever.”
The Mercian Regiment was formed two years ago in a merger that included the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters. With Derbyshire roots, the Sherwood Foresters’ history can be traced back to 1741, when England was at war with France.