Farewell march for town's troops
Former Staffords are preparing to say goodbye to the troops as they head off to Germany for a several-year stint.
Thousands of people turned out to cheer on the unit – now known as the 3rd Battalion the Mercian Regiment (Staffords) as it staged a farewell march through the county town on Friday.
For former Staffords like Bob Jordan, aged 71, the day was one of pride tinged with sadness.
"There have been a lot of changes for the Staffords," said Mr Jordan, of Mount Street, Hednesford. The Staffordshire Regiment, which can trace its roots back to the 18th century, became the Mercian Regiment (Staffords) in 2007 following a merger with two other regiments – a move to which Mr Jordan was vehemently opposed.
"We have a very long and proud history which I feel quite strongly about," said Mr Jordan, who was stationed in Germany between 1956 and 1958 under National Service. "The parade was the people of Staffordshire out to see their lads; I think we all still think of them as the Staffords."
A hand tremor meant the young private didn't see any action, but Mr Jordan, a long-time member of the Hednesford branch of the Staffordshire Regimental Association, remains fiercely proud of his connections to the unit and has even penned a poem inspired by the history of the Staffords.
In Germany, the 300-year-old armoured infantry battalion will move to Fallingbostel in Germany where it will become part of 7 Armoured Brigade. They are expected to remain abroad for several years. Mr Jordan said: "It's a great posting, Germany is a fantastic place, I spent 14 months there and I've got very fond memories."
The Staffordshire Regiment merged with the Cheshire and Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiments in September 2007 to become the Mercian Regiment.
Members of the recently formed Stafford branch of the Staffordshire Regimental Association were also out in force at Friday's parade.
