Kofi Ampeah Woode
Ghana Army’s 2 Infantry Battalion (2Bn) has honoured the memory of Sergeant (Sgt) Charles II as the Battalion held the 62nd wreath laying ceremony for its dead mascots.
A memorial ceremony was held on Monday 16 December 2024, at the Mascot Cemetery at the Myohaung Barracks, Takoradi, in the Western Region of Ghana, with the Commanding Officer (CO), 2Bn – Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Edmond Nana Nyarko Osae, as the Chief Guest.
The CO laid the first wreath on behalf of Officers and Soldiers of the Unit, whiles the Civilian Administrative Personnel Officer (CAPO) – Mr Ebenezer Adamu, laid another on behalf of the Defence Civilian Staff, and the Battalion Magajia – Madam Bernice Akuako, laid the last wreath on behalf of wives and families of the Unit.
On 16 December each year, a solemn wreath laying memorial service is observed at the Mascot Cemetery in the Myohaung Barracks, home of 2Bn, to honour the souls of the dead mascots.
Personnel at the memorial ceremony – which was commanded by Lt Christopher Deladem Pometsey – composed of a parade contingent, Cenotaph Guards, wreath bearers, flag hoisters, the Unit’s Corps of Drums, and the current Mascot – Sgt Charles II.
A mascot is a person, animal or object adopted by an institution as a symbolic figure that is believed to bring good luck to that particular institution.
The mascot of 2Bn is a spotless white ram christened 562016 Sgt Charles II, named after its donor Sir Charles Noble Arden Clarke – last Governor of the Gold Coast (now Ghana). It symbolizes the energy behind the CO, and the soul of the Unit, and inspires the Unit for higher achievement, as it usually leads the Unit’s Corps of Drums on all ceremonial parades, both in and outside the Unit.
Sgt Charles II succeeded Senior Warrant Officer Class II Charles IX, who died on Saturday 30 April 2016 after a short illness, and was honoured with a full military burial.
Credit: 2 GAR PR Detachment, Takoradi
