Editing Patrick Mercer (section)

==British Army career==
Mercer followed his father, who saw wartime service in the [[Sherwood Foresters]] (Notts & Derby Regiment), into the British Army. He was commissioned into the [[Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment]] on 8 March 1975 as a [[second lieutenant]]. His [[service number]] was 499748.<ref name="LG 22 April 1975">{{London Gazette|issue=46551|date=22 April 1975|pages=5161 |supp=y }}</ref> On 8 March 1977, he was promoted to [[Lieutenant (British Army and Royal Marines)|lieutenant]].<ref name="LG 7 March 1977">{{London Gazette |issue=47166 |date=7 March 1977 |page=3221 |supp=y }}</ref> He was promoted to [[Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|captain]] on 8 September 1981,<ref name="LG 14 September 1981">{{London Gazette |issue=48734|date=14 September 1981|page=11685 |supp=y }}</ref> and to [[Major (United Kingdom)|major]] on 30 September 1988.<ref name="LG 3 October 1988">{{London Gazette |issue=51488|date=3 October 1988|pages=11089|supp=y}}</ref> On 30 June 1994, he was promoted to [[Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)|lieutenant colonel]],<ref name="LG 4 July 1994">{{London Gazette |issue=53724|date=4 July 1994|pages=9606|supp=y}}</ref> then to [[Colonel (United Kingdom)|colonel]] on 30 June 1998.<ref name="LG 29 June 1998">{{London Gazette|issue=55181|date=29 June 1998|page=7122|supp=y}}</ref>

During his time in the Army, Mercer completed nine tours in Northern Ireland and latterly commanded his battalion in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], Canada and [[Tidworth Camp|Tidworth]]. Mercer served at both the [[Staff College, Camberley]], and the Army's [[Cranfield University|University]] at [[Cranfield]].

Mercer was [[Mentioned in Despatches]] in 1983 for "gallant and distinguished service in Northern Ireland during the period 1 November 1982 to 31 January 1983".<ref name="LG 20 June 1983">{{London Gazette|issue=49393|date=20 June 1983|page=8198|supp=y}}</ref> He earned a gallantry commendation in 1990. He was made an [[Member of the Order of the British Empire|MBE]] on 12 October 1993 "in recognition of distinguished service in Northern Ireland".<ref name="LG 11 October 1993">{{London Gazette|issue=53453|date=11 October 1993|page=16387|supp=y}}</ref> He was made an [[Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire|OBE]] on 13 May 1997 "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the former Yugoslavia during the period 21 June to 20 December 1996".<ref name="LG 13 May 1997">{{London Gazette|issue=54763|date=13 May 1997|pages=5627|supp=y}}</ref> He left the Army in 1999 as a colonel, He retired from the army on 1 September 1999,<ref name="LG 14 September 1999">{{London Gazette|issue=55609|date=14 September 1999|page=9833|supp=y}}</ref> his last posting having been as head of communications and strategy at the Army Training and Recruiting Agency.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}