- SURNAME
Sharman
- FORENAME
Brian William Fraser
- UNIT
Parachute Regiment
- RANK
Major (Quartermaster)
- NUMBER
488330
- AWARD
Member of the Order of the British Empire
- PLACE
1978
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
London Gazette 47723, 29th December 1978, Page 6
CITATION:
Member of the Order of the British Empire : Major Sharman became Quartermaster of the Second Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (in the rank of Captain) in January 1976. This appointment was his first as Quartermaster and coincided with the start of an unusually active and turbulent two years for the Battalion.
In his first six months he administered reciprocal company training exchanges with units from four different nations. His arrangements for these visits were faultless and did much to foster international military relations at an important working level. During this period he also prepared and directed comprehensive programme of service support to an MOD sponsored trial. Here again his administrative flair was greatly in evidence and this, combined with his tactful but positive handling of civilian staff from the associated Research and Development establishments was a major contribution to a successful trial.
The next six months saw the Battalion involved with a six week period of spearhead duty; a Trooping of the Colour parade before the Chief of the General Staff; a Battalion Airborne Test Exercise and a major NATO exercise in Norway; a reconnaissance visit to Berlin, and preliminary training for Northern Ireland. The administrative support to all these diverse and sometimes concurrent commitments was impeccable.
The Battalion moved to Belfast in November 1976 for an operational roulement tour of four months. This was Major Sharman's first experience of Northern Ireland. Here, apart from the normal heavy work load peculiar to that theatre, he had the additional tasks of closing and relocating the Battalion echelon, a rifle company, and some attached minor units. Superimposed over these projects was the major problem of planning and co-ordinating the administrative aspects of a unit move from Aldershot to Berlin.
By dint of careful planning, tireless personal effort and a splendidly motivated staff he achieved the remarkable feat of handing over to the relieving unit in Belfast, marching the Battalion out of its barracks at Aldershot and occupancy of its present barracks in Berlin.
Place : Aldershot, Belfast, Berlin
Date of Action : 1976-1978
How Employed : Battalion Quartermaster
In his first six months he administered reciprocal company training exchanges with units from four different nations. His arrangements for these visits were faultless and did much to foster international military relations at an important working level. During this period he also prepared and directed comprehensive programme of service support to an MOD sponsored trial. Here again his administrative flair was greatly in evidence and this, combined with his tactful but positive handling of civilian staff from the associated Research and Development establishments was a major contribution to a successful trial.
The next six months saw the Battalion involved with a six week period of spearhead duty; a Trooping of the Colour parade before the Chief of the General Staff; a Battalion Airborne Test Exercise and a major NATO exercise in Norway; a reconnaissance visit to Berlin, and preliminary training for Northern Ireland. The administrative support to all these diverse and sometimes concurrent commitments was impeccable.
The Battalion moved to Belfast in November 1976 for an operational roulement tour of four months. This was Major Sharman's first experience of Northern Ireland. Here, apart from the normal heavy work load peculiar to that theatre, he had the additional tasks of closing and relocating the Battalion echelon, a rifle company, and some attached minor units. Superimposed over these projects was the major problem of planning and co-ordinating the administrative aspects of a unit move from Aldershot to Berlin.
By dint of careful planning, tireless personal effort and a splendidly motivated staff he achieved the remarkable feat of handing over to the relieving unit in Belfast, marching the Battalion out of its barracks at Aldershot and occupancy of its present barracks in Berlin.
Place : Aldershot, Belfast, Berlin
Date of Action : 1976-1978
How Employed : Battalion Quartermaster
WEB LINKS:
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/47723/supplement/6https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7633833
