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Major Mark Etherington
Late Coldstream Guards
by Major Adrian Hunter
Coldstream Guards
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Mark Etherington died tragically young on 10th April 2014 whilst a serving Major and following a career extending over 30 years.
Born in Chatham, Kent, on 4th April 1967, Mark enlisted on his 16th birthday into the Coldstream Guards as a junior entrant from his hometown of Kings Lynn, Norfolk. Following basic training at the Guards Depot, he moved to the 1st Battalion in Caterham were he joined No 1 Company. Following a six week exercise to Canada, where he was identified as an exceptional shot, he was immediately seconded to the Battalion shooting team before making the move to the 2nd Battalion in preparation for his first operational deployment to South Armagh, Northern Ireland. Following this, the Battalion embarked on an overseas exercise to Kenya, where the then young Guardsman Etherington was singled out as being ‘one to watch’ for the future. Returning to the UK in 1987, he successfully completed a sniper course and spent the first part of the year preparing for his wedding to Laura, whom he married on his birthday in the same year.
He successfully completed a Non Commissioned Officers Drill and Tactics course which resulted in promotion to Lance Corporal in the August of 1987 after only three years as a Guardsman. Moving with the 2nd Battalion to Cyprus he returned to the UK in 1988 to successfully complete the Household Division Centralised Courses Section Commanders course and then latterly in the same year the Guards Depot Potential Instructors Course (GDPI). His outstanding performance on GDPI ensured that he was selected to return to the Depot as an instructor. On completion of his time at Pirbright, he returned to regimental duty completing a further tour of South Armagh. Electing to remain with the newly formed No 7 Company, he completed the Platoon Sergeants Battle Course which resulted in his selection substantive promotion to Sergeant. He was posted in early January 1994 to the battalion in Münster, Germany, and to No 1 Company who were deployed on Operation GRAPPLE in the former Yugoslavia (Bosnia). Taking No 1 Platoon safely through the remainder of the tour and a successful battalion level overseas exercise to Canada, Mark was a natural fit for the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) and he was selected and posted in April 1996.
A naturally gifted instructor, he excelled at Sandhurst completing two very successful years. Returning to the Battalion in Windsor as a substantive Colour Sergeant, he was appointed the CQMS of No 3 Company, again deploying to South Armagh this time over the millennium celebration.
Returning to Windsor, he was selected for substantive promotion to the Warrant Officer Class 2 in June 2000. With the Battalion due to arms plot to Londonderry on a two-year residential tour in the late spring of 2001, he was selected to fulfil arguably the most demanding and prestigious WO2 appointment as the Close Observation Platoon (COP) Warrant Officer, at which he excelled.
Going from strength to strength, he moved to stabilise Headquarter Company as the Company Sergeant Major (CSM) before taking over what he rightly viewed as the ultimate WO2 appointment in the CSM of No 7 Company. Steering the company through an exceptionally busy period of public duties, including two Birthday Parades, he returned to the Battalion, now in Lille Barracks Aldershot, in the spring of 2005 as the RQMS. Assuming this most demanding of appointments, he oversaw the battalion’s preparation, deployment and recovery to Iraq on Operation TELIC.
Mark was selected for promotion to Warrant Officer Class 1 in April 2006. Whilst bitterly disappointed at missing out on the RSM of the Battalion, he was successfully selected to be appointed as the RSM of Old College. Applying for a Late Entry commission in 2007, he succeeded and he moved on commissioning from Sandhurst to the Armour Centre Lulworth. Looking to return to The Battalion at the earliest opportunity, he assumed the appointment of Mechanical Transport Officer in early February of 2009. With no one forthcoming, it was left to him to pick up the baton and assume the Battlegroup Logistic Officer (BGLO) appointment for the impending round of Foundation Training, a job, like so many others, in which he excelled. Fulfilling a dual role as the MTO and BGLO, he saw the Battalion though a hectic and demanding period of pre-deployment training in preparation for Operation HERRICK 11 in Afghanistan. In 2010 he moved to be the Quartermaster (Technical) over a period that included an arms plot, state ceremonial and public duties.
It was shortly before the Regiment was presented its new Colours in May of 2012 that tragedy struck and after some weeks of suffering from rib and chest discomfort Mark was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with a rare cancer in the form of a sarcoma. Despite this, and with all the issues that such terrible news must bring, he was discharged from hospital in time to be on parade in full Home Service Clothing to meet her Majesty at the reception that followed in Victoria Barracks. Anyone who saw Mark that day could not fail to be impressed by his remarkable bravery and commitment.
Following nearly two years of extensive treatment and a battle like no other, Mark passed away at home in his quarter in Camberley in the arms of the woman he loved and with his eldest daughter by his side. Anyone who saw him over these past couple of years or who witnessed his fight will attest to the character of an extraordinary individual who faced exceptional adversity with courage, dignity, strength and honour.
It is so difficult to capture the essence of a man in death who was so much more than just alive in life. Ridiculously positive, upbeat and humorous, he was to nearly all who knew him a never-ending hulk of happiness. Rarely downbeat, seldom moody, he had that rare and endearing quality in that he didn’t hold grudges and very rarely took offence and if he did, then it was most probably with someone who would warrant such negativity. Mark was by far the most personable of individuals you could meet and most definitely a people person, professionally and privately. He was always at his best assisting, helping, guiding, cajoling and, when required, persuading people (in a number of ways!). Despite his obvious imposing physical appearance he was generous, kind, understanding, thoughtful, sensitive, firm, fair and honest. He was fiercely loyal to those who he knew and trusted most and never hesitated to offer assistance to those who needed it. Blessed with a honed sense of humour that went from slapstick to deep sarcasm, he has left a lasting impression on all who knew him.
A true professional, Major Mark Etherington had his own inimitable style that inspired and shaped many of the people who have had the good fortune to meet him. He is survived by Laura, his devoted and loving wife of 27 years and their three children, Gareth, Ellis and Abbie of whom he was immensely proud.
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