Herforder Association

1,000 troops to mark royal wedding

2011-04-02T01:32:00.000-07:00

More than 1,000 military personnel will be involved in the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on 29 April, it has been announced.

The MoD has confirmed that the 1st Battalion Irish Guards will be providing the Queen's Guard at Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace and the Tower of London all day, and will turn out for the departure of the royal family from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey.

En route, the Life Guards and Blues and Royals of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment will form a Sovereign's Escort for the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh and a Captain's Escort for the bride and groom involving 160 horses.

After the ceremony around 1,000 personnel from all branches of the armed forces will line the streets in ceremonial uniform as the couple leave Westminster Abbey.

The path lining party will be made up of personnel with a personal connection to Prince William through his work as a Search and Rescue pilot and his position as Commodore-in-Chief of Submarines, Colonel of the Irish Guards, Royal Honorary Air Commandant of RAF Coningsby and Patron of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

It will also feature personnel deemed to have made an "outstanding contribution" to their service.

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Lancaster, a Spitfire and a Hurricane will be followed by two Typhoons and two Tornado GR4s in box formation in a flypast over Buckingham palace at 1330.

A Guard of Honour comprising three officers and 101 other ranks from the Welsh Guards will be positioned in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace for the return of the members of the Royal Family.

General Sir David Richards, Chief of the Defence Staff, said:

"I am delighted that so many members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces have the opportunity to be part of the royal wedding. It is a huge honour for those servicemen and women taking part and one that they and their families will remember with great pride. They reflect the sentiments of the whole of the armed forces who share their pride in supporting this national celebration.

"For those in the path-lining party it will be a particular and poignant honour as many will have served alongside Prince William, and I am sure they will take great delight in being among the first to see His Royal Highness alongside his new bride."

Soldier from Royal Corps of Signals killed in Afghanistan

2010-12-22T23:44:00.000-08:00

It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence must announce that a soldier from 216 Parachute Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals, was killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday, 21 December 2010.

The soldier died as a result of wounds sustained when the vehicle in which he was travelling came into contact with an improvised explosive device.

At the time of his death, the soldier was taking part in an operation to disrupt insurgent freedom of movement in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province, bringing increased security to the area.

Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel David Eastman, said:

"It is with great regret that I must announce the loss of a soldier from 216 Parachute Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals. The soldier was patrolling in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand, bringing security and stability to an area previously dominated by insurgent intimidation, when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device.

"His loss is a bitter blow, especially during this season of peace and goodwill. He died making a better, safer life for others; his sacrifice will not be forgotten."

Next of kin have been informed and asked for a period of grace before further details are released.

MoD pours more money into Bowman Radio System

2009-07-05T23:25:00.000-07:00

Following years of criticism, and nearly an internal revolt by commanding officers, the MoD has poured £231m in additional funds into the Bowman radio.

In two contracts formulated with General Dynamics, the company will service and maintain Bowman radios over the course of their lifetime and install upgrades and updates when necessary.

"Bowman has been used successfully in Iraq and Afghanistan, where secure, faster communications and data exchange is saving lives on the front line. It is a key element of a comprehensive suite of communications systems to provide a robust network that allows commanders to exercise command and control effectively,"

said Quentin Davies, minister for defence equipment and support.

The radio system is installed in 13,000 pieces of equipment including vehicles, helicopters, ships and headquarters.

However the contract is not expected to be welcomed in all sections of the Armed Forces. Last year commanding officers confronted General Sir David Richards, the incoming chief of the general staff, telling him that Bowman was " a broken system" and described it as "useless".

They said that coverage could not extend more than 5km at best and often was reduced to a few hundred metres in many instances.

Troops have also alleged that some Bowmans have batteries with an extremely short life. It has been alleged that in some cases the radios have to be kept off until an attack occurs in order to preserve battery power.

One commanding officer reportedly told Sir David during their meeting in Afghanistan last year that he favoured a return of the Clansman radio.

Other complaints have centred on the weight of the portable radios.

The MoD has a less than stellar record on the procurement of the Bowman radio system.

The original attempt to procure Bowman, through the Archer consortium, resulted in the cancellation of the deal after it ran ten years late, £500m over budget and arrived without important capabilities to prevent friendly fire.

Navy Defends Britain with 9 Ships (One a Tanker)

2009-05-18T23:38:00.000-07:00

Support for the Royal Navy has become so bad that the service now has a mere 9 ships allocated to protecting Britain’s territorial waters, according to a new report out by MPs today.

In the Commons Defence Select Committee’s report on National Security and the role MoD plays, MPs found maritime security to be a glaring weakness in the National Security Strategy (NSS).

Years of cuts to the Navy’s budget coupled with numerous ships being taken out of service and not replaced has left Britain with minimal maritime defences.

Testimony from various Government agencies revealed that MoD and Government are content with current domestic maritime security. An intelligence first approach has according to officials, safeguarded the country.

But statistics shown to MPs found that Britain is protected by 3 Type 23 Destroyers, 3 Hunter Class minesweepers, 2 River-class offshore patrol vessels, and a support tanker.

Only 6 of the ships are dedicated specifically to British maritime security. Other ships conducting exercises or patrols near Britain could be recalled in the case of an emergency.

The Government however has claimed that a collection of ships from other agencies provides additional protection to the UK. The MoD Police have around 50 vessels used for security purposes, although many of these are used to guard MoD facilities and high profile capabilities such as the nuclear deterrent. Police forces around the country have 70 vessels in total while the Coast Guard has 5 in-shore vessels and the UK Border Agency has 5 patrol cutters.

"We are concerned at the level of action being taken to address identified threats to aspects of critical national infrastructure," the report said. Infrastructure such as ports and important natural resource depots such as oil refineries that are located close to the water are vulnerable MPs said.

The findings were part of a large examination of the role MoD plays in national security. MPs said that MoD makes a "vital and unique" contribution to security but called on other departments to better understand, direct and resource the MoD’s contributions.

Scots Dragoon Guards win Classical Brit Award

2009-05-18T23:27:00.000-07:00

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards are the first military band to win a Classical Brit Award

At a star-studded ceremony in London's Royal Albert Hall on Thursday 14 May 2009, The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards scooped the top prize for best album of the year.

They beat off tough competition in the form of forces' sweetheart Katherine Jenkins, Hayley Westenra, The Priests and Mike Oldfield to win the much coveted NS&I Album of the Year Award with their offering, 'Spirit of the Glen: Journey', which was recorded while they were on operations in Basra.

After coming runner-up in the same category last year, The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Pipes and Drums emerged triumphant from this year's ceremony after the public vote placed them above all the other contenders.

Bowman radio to be upgraded

2009-05-13T08:41:00.000-07:00

The British military's tactical communications and data system, known as Bowman, is to get a series of upgrades which will make it simpler for troops to use.

The new upgrades to Bowman will also provide enhanced battle planning tools, a more stable and robust tactical internet, and improved situational awareness.

Bowman's secure radio communications have been used on operations since 2005, together with a basic data capability.

The Bowman system has been developed and integrated by General Dynamics UK into over 13,000 British Army vehicles, together with headquarters, ships, and helicopters.

The Ministry of Defence is also purchasing an additional 3,400 radios in order to meet the demands of current operations and their associated training needs.

The latest planned upgrade, known as BCIP5, will be fielded as a software and hardware upgrade across the Army's vehicle and man-portable radio fleets.

Quentin Davies, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, said:

"Bowman is a step change from the old days of analogue radios and manual code-books. It has been used successfully in Iraq and Afghanistan, where secure, faster communications and simple data exchange is saving lives on the front line.

"Working together with industry through the Bowman prime contractor, General Dynamics UK, means that we are at the vanguard of military communications capability. It allows us to adapt constantly to technological advances and the evolving demands of life on operations."

Bowman CIP (Combat, Infrastructure and Platform) Battlefield Information Systems Application, which has achieved its formal, full-system acceptance, is a spiral programme of incremental development expected to take place over 25-30 years.

Merseyside soldiers face the axe in shake-up to make the Territorial Army better prepared for war

2009-04-29T01:38:00.000-07:00

The posts will be lost from Signals units based in Huyton, Aintree and Runcorn whose technology is now obsolete, the Ministry of Defence said.

Ministers pledged the reservists affected would be offered alternative positions within the TA “where possible” – and denied the motivation was cost-cutting.

With 2,000 posts to go across the country, they are yet to decide exactly where the axe will fall. But the regiments affected will include:

33 Sig Regt (V), Huyton;

33 Sig Regt (V) REME LAD HQ, Huyton;

33 Sig Regt (V) 59 Sig Sqn Liverpool, Aintree;

33 Sig Regt (V) 43 Sig Sqn, Runcorn.

Defence minister Bob Ainsworth said the decision was “not taken lightly”, but insisted the communications equipment they were formed to operate was no longer needed. He told MPs:

“We are very aware of the exceptional contribution made by the Royal Signals within the TA, but we must focus resources where we need them most.

“Where possible, those affected by the decision will be offered other opportunities within the TA and we will be conducting further work to decide the most effective configuration for the TA Royal Signals.”

We'll fight Brown on the beaches

2009-03-21T02:53:00.000-07:00

Survivors of D-Day reacted angrily yesterday to what they claimed was a belated attempt to politicise and hijack a nine-month campaign to take British veterans to mark the 65th anniversary of the Normandy landings.

A public appeal for funds to take 500 ex-service personnel to the commemorations in France, launched in The Independent on 6 June last year, has been assured of success for weeks. The Government had been criticised for not paying the travel costs, and for not planning to send Gordon Brown to the event – but yesterday it said there would be "appropriate British attendance" and that it would "provide support so veterans can participate".

As the Big Lottery Fund suddenly announced its contribution towards veterans' fares, the Prime Minister said he wanted to be "very much part of the commemorations", and that he hoped there would be a service in Westminster Abbey to remember a "great generation of heroes".

But Peter Hodge, secretary of the Normandy Veterans Association (NVA), said:

"Ministers on the beaches is not really what we wanted or needed. We never complained about the Government not giving us money. We wanted this to be between the veterans and the British people. The public response to our appeal, first publicised in The Independent, has already been fantastic."

"We also wanted this to be mostly about the veterans themselves. If ministers go along, the extra security tends to mean that veterans are pushed into the background."

After reading The Independent's story about the appeal, the advertising executive Trevor Beattie took up the cause and helped Mr Hodge to set up a fund which has since received pledges of more than £175,000. This, and other sums raised by the NVA, is enough to take all 500 fit British D-Day survivors back to the beaches. Mr Beattie has donated £30,000, and the comedian Eddie Izzard has promised to make up any shortfall. For many elderly NVA members, the 65th anniversary will be their last chance to remember the sacrifices made on 6 June 1944.

Mr Beattie said:

"Everyone who wants to support these magnificent men is very welcome. But it would have been courteous to recognise all that has already been done by Peter Hodge and myself and The Independent. Most of all I object to the clear attempt to hijack and politicise our campaign. This was never about attacking Labour or Gordon Brown. It was always about supporting our veterans in a practical way."

He added: "The job is already done. We already have enough money for the veterans to go to Normandy and probably enough to fund events, with live film links, for those who are not well enough to travel."

Mr Hodge wrote to every British newspaper last May asking them to highlight the plight of the veterans. In 2004, the Labour Government paid for veterans to travel to the 60th anniversary, and he said this was more than any previous government, Labour or Conservative, had done. The NVA accepted that the Government could not pay again, so it appealed directly to the public to help raise funds for a "last parade" of D-Day survivors in 2009.

The only national newspaper to respond to Mr Hodge's letter at the time was The Independent.

"The truth is that it is rather too late to be raising funds now," Mr Hodge said yesterday. "We are talking about elderly people and that means you have to plan well in advance. Luckily, thanks to Mr Beattie and others, we already look like we will have all the money we need."

Russia to Re-Arm over NATO Growth

2009-03-19T01:12:00.000-07:00

Russia said it would re-arm its military and boost its nuclear forces in response to the expansion of NATO to its western frontiers and the increased threat of international terrorism.

Dmitry Medvedev, Russian president, said yesterday:

“The main task is to qualitatively improve the combat readiness of our forces, above all our strategic nuclear forces.”

Speaking at a rare meeting with military leaders in Moscow, Mr Medvedev said NATO was continuing to expand closer to Russia’s borders. Russia was also under threat from “local crises and international terrorism.”

Mr Medvedev was speaking less than a fortnight after Moscow and Washington pledged to try to improve relations, which sank to the worst low since the Cold War during the administration of former US president George W. Bush.

Russia perceives NATO’s eastern expansion, coupled with US plans to deploy a ballistic missile shields in eastern Europe, as a threat to its national security.

Mr Medvedev said Russia had the financial muscle to improve its armed forces despite the financial crisis engulfing the country.

“Never in the history of modern Russia have there been such favourable conditions to create a contemporary highly efficient armed forces,” he said.

The creation of a modern army was crucial to protect Russia against outside aggression and underpin the growing of the economy and wellbeing of citizens, he said.

Mr Medvedev admitted that the war with Georgia last summer had exposed shortcomings in the Russian military that should be rapidly redressed. Although Russia’s military campaign in Georgia was successful, the war exposed the army’s lack of modern equipment and the top-heavy bureaucracy.

Russia has since launched plans to transform the army into a lighter more agile force. It has also raised hackles in NATO by establishing military bases in Georgia’s breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and announcing plans to base part of its Black Sea fleet on the Abkhazian coast.

Oldest Flying School Opens for 90th Birthday

2009-03-17T01:25:00.000-07:00

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the world's oldest military pilot academy - No 1 Flying Training School (1 FTS). More than half of its existence has been spent in North Yorkshire.

1 FTS is based at RAF Linton-on-Ouse and, as part of commemorations to mark nine-decades of pilot training, Linton is offering the public a glimpse of its history as a wartime bomber base and subsequent role teaching RAF fast jet pilots; firstly on Piston and Jet Provosts and now Tucano aircraft.

Tours of the Memorial Room, which houses the base's unique collection, will be conducted on the last Sunday of each month, beginning on March 29, and will run until October.

RAF Linton-on-Ouse was one of Yorkshire's most important wartime bases. Squadrons there began the war by dropping propaganda leaflets over Germany and later took part in the 1000 bomber raids. Flying legend Group Captain Leonard Cheshire VC was the commanding officer of 76 Squadron which today at Linton is part of 1 FTS.

The memorial room commemorates the 2009 airmen from Linton and its satellite airfields at East Moor and Tholthorpe who were killed while serving with Bomber Command during the first part of the war and with the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1943.

Founded by the late Bill Steel, the room offers a fascinating snapshot of photographs, stories and artefacts from the wartime era as well as mementoes and pictures which tell the story of 1 FTS from its formative years in 1919 when it was based at Netheravon, Wiltshire, (pictured) to the present day at Linton.

The memorial room will be open to members of the public on a pre-booked basis at 2.00pm and 3.30pm on one Sunday each month from March to October; normally this will be the last Sunday of the month.

For further information, and to book a visit, please phone Passes and Permits at RAF Linton-on-Ouse on 01347 747660. Visitors will need proof of identity to gain access to the station.

Ridgback tested for Helmand

2009-03-17T01:20:00.000-07:00

The first batch of the new Ridgback protected vehicles are currently being tested by the Army, and are expected to be going to work in Afghanistan later this year.
Ridgback

Lighter and more agile than the Mastiff Armoured Fighting Vehicle, the Ridgback, though very similar, is nearly two metres shorter but, crucially, a metre slimmer than its big brother, allowing troops greater access and mobility within built-up environments.

While manoeuvrability is its special feature, it is passenger-protection that remains paramount. Ridgback is mine and IED (improvised explosive device) strike-proofed to the same level as a Mastiff 2; just as heavily armoured but nine tonnes lighter.

As with Mastiff, the base vehicle is the American Cougar. These are shipped to Coventry where NP Aerospace up-armours then unleashes the new beasts for the Ministry of Defence.

The 4x4s become Ridgbacks and the 6x6s become the Mastiffs soldiers know and love. In sharing the same basic platform and major components, Ridgback benefits from the proven support and training regimes already in place for Mastiff.

Among the upgrades fitted at Coventry, Ridgback incorporates an impressive electronics pack including Bowman communications, electronic countermeasures, night vision and thermal imaging. The multi-camera feeds to the TV screens inside give the crew impressive situational awareness from within the vehicle.
Ridgback

Some vehicles will be fitted with a remote weapons system allowing the crew to operate Ridgback's weapons via a camera and joystick from inside the vehicle.

Other attributes include run-flat tyres, modified seats offering superior protection from bomb blasts, and easy gear selection and driveability.

Photo Exhibition Launched

2009-03-03T23:49:00.000-08:00

A new exhibition at the National War Museum in Edinburgh features photographs of Scotland-based 52 Infantry Brigade's six-month deployment to Helmand over the winter of 2007-2008.

The photographs were taken by Robert Wilson, war artist with the brigade, and the exhibition is called 'Helmand: Faces of Conflict'.

From faces of weary men returning from three weeks on patrol to the dusty landscape of their surroundings, Wilson captured the lives of soldiers and civilians with an unflinching sense of intimacy.

His photographs are strikingly different from classic images of warfare, putting a human face on the servicemen and women risking their lives on a daily basis.

Robert Wilson said:

"My days in Afghanistan were some of the most amazing of my life. It was a rare and fantastic opportunity to capture moments in time which were not only visually stunning but historic. I felt it was important to depict the war through the men who are fighting it, by portraying their world and giving a sense of how they live."

Stuart Allan, Senior Curator of Military History, National War Museum, said:

"Traditionally, museums are more widely seen as reflecting on past conflicts, but here we have an ongoing war, seen with extraordinary clarity through the lens of a single artist."

Commander 52 Infantry Brigade, Brigadier Andrew Mackay, said:

"As commanding officer of the Helmand Task Force I could not have asked more of a war artist. The people and landscapes in his images clearly show the effects of a complex struggle etched on to rock, desert, clothing and faces. These vivid, brilliant and mesmerising images show the humanity of those who experience hardship and danger on the front line."

The brigade, which has its regional headquarters in Edinburgh Castle, wanted a lasting record of its experience in the troubled southern Afghan province and in early 2008 the photographer, who is well-known for his marketing campaigns for international brands such as Nike and Guinness, found himself boarding an RAF TriStar aircraft bound for Afghanistan.

52 Brigade were headquartered in Lashkar Gah. Robert though joined units based in the Forward Operating Bases where he managed to capture his subjects with penetrating intimacy.

His unrivalled access to the men and women serving in Helmand has produced a memorable photographic collection that erodes the sterile remoteness with which most of us perceive modern warfare.

A book of Robert Wilson's photographs, 'Helmand', has been acclaimed for its impact and insight into life on the front line. It will be available from the National War Museum shop, priced at £30.

The exhibition runs until January 2010.

Parade for signal regiment troops

2009-03-01T01:10:00.000-08:00

People lined the streets of Stafford to welcome back 250 soldiers returning from Afghanistan on Saturday 28th February 2009.

The 22nd Signal Regiment, based in Stafford, was joined by up to 15 Territorial Army members from the 35th Signal Regiment in Coventry.

They served in Afghanistan providing communications support for six months.

A service was held at St Mary's Church earlier and troops then paraded through town, led by the Heavy Cavalry and Cambrai Band.

Capt Graham Clarke from the 22 Signal Regiment said the parade meant a lot to the soldiers.

"It demonstrates the sort of connection we have with the local community. The town's really shown its support on every occasion.

"When we get the opportunity we like to show we recognise the warm welcome and are thankful for it.

"It's reassuring to know that politics and the issues of the day can ebb and flow, but the public's acceptance shows that we are generally doing good and that generally people are behind us."

Navy Radio Operators get hands on training kit

2009-02-24T23:41:00.000-08:00

Royal Naval trainee Radio Operators are now able to undergo Bowman communications training in new mock ups of a Type 23 Frigate and Type 42 Destroyer at the Maritime Warfare School.

Before heading to their ships, the new installation allows the trainees to get hands on experience in the classroom on Bowman, the fully digitised communication radio system that is capable of providing secure voice and data across the area of operations, utilising VHF (very high frequency), HF (high frequency, voice and data) and UHF (ultra high frequency, data only) frequency spectrums.

The Marine Warfare School (MWS) where Officers and Ratings for the Fleet are trained, is part of the Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) organisation, delivering War fare Training on five sites; Horsea Island, HMS Temeraire and HMS Excellent all in Portsmouth, HMS Raleigh in Cornwall and HMS Collingwood in Fareham, Hampshire, where the new ship mocks up have been installed.

The Bowman training is carried out within the Communication Warfare Training Element (CWTE), which is headed by an Army Yeoman of Signals, a Petty Officer Communications and Information Systems and a civilian instructor. Between them they are responsible for delivering a wide range of courses on different aspects of the Bowman communications system. The courses are Instructor led computer emulated lessons using Steady State Courseware.

Staff Sergeant Yeoman of Signals Gareth Williams said of the new kit:

"Having the new kit installed at MWS is a real bonus to the training we deliver. The computer emulation is an excellent asset to provide cost effective training to a large number of students, but there is no more effective training than getting "hands on" the real equipment."

US Air Force to Unleash 'Gorgon Stare' on Squirting Insurgents

2009-02-23T01:26:00.000-08:00

The award for best -- and creepiest -- military name of the week? No contest, that's "Gorgon Stare," the US Air Force's $150 million project to outfit its latest spy drones with super high-powered cameras.

By next year, 10 Reaper unmanned aircraft should have a Gorgon Stare sensor, which will film an area, two-and-a-half miles around, from 12 different angles.

"Gorgon Stare will allow a combat controller on the ground, a commander at headquarters and an intelligence officer back in the U.S. all to choose a different angle from the same Reaper," according to Air Force Times' Michael Hoffman.

The Reaper – and its little drone brother, the Predator – already have video cameras, of course. Gorgon Stare won't replace those sensors. Instead, it's meant to supplement the full-motion video with a jumpier, but wider, view. That'll allow airmen to 'see the bigger picture' and have a better idea where to point full-motion video sensors," Hoffman notes.

Reapers and MQ-1 Predators are often called on to track vehicles and hover over buildings to watch for "squirters," or insurgents running out of buildings during U.S. operations. Airmen controlling the sensors sometimes lose track of those vehicles or squirters if they drive or run out of view too fast.

Gorgon Stare will be invaluable in such instances, Bower said. Even if a vehicle drives out of the view of the full-motion video sensor, it will still be within Gorgon Stare's range. Even if 12 squirters run in 12 directions, Gorgon Stare could dedicate one angle to each one.

But as crazy as that is, Darpa is working on a project that could put Gorgon Stare to shame. The "Argus" program, recently highlighted by David Hambling, uses 92 cameras at once, compared to Gorgon Stare's measly dozen. But as cool as Argus might turn out to be, it'll need a revamped name, before it can really compete with Gorgon Stare.

[Image and article firtst appeared in the Air Force Times]

British Muslims supplying Taliban's bomb parts

2009-02-22T01:08:00.000-08:00

British Muslims are supplying the Taliban with electronic devices to build roadside bombs for use in attacks on British forces in Afghanistan, it has been claimed.

A national newspaper said the devices, used to activate bombs by remote control, were being sent to sympathisers in the region or carried in by volunteers who fly into Pakistan before crossing the border into Afghanistan.

The details were said to have emerged during a briefing to Foreign Secretary David Miliband during a two-day visit to the country earlier this week.

The paper quoted an explosives officer as telling him: "We have found electronic components in devices used to target British troops that originally come from Britain."

When Mr Miliband asked how the components had reached Afghanistan, the officer was said to have replied they had either been sent from Britain, or carried in by British Muslims.

The Foreign Secretary was shown a series of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) used in attacks on UK troops.

They ranged from mobile phones packed with explosives, which could kill or maim soldiers on foot patrol, to more sophisticated devices that could be used to attack military vehicles.

Experts who have examined the devices were said to have found British-made electronic components which enable the IEDs to be detonated by remote control.

The electronic devices involved included basic remote control units designed to fly model airplanes to more advanced components that enable insurgents to conduct attacks from up to a mile away from their target.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said:

"The insurgents in Afghanistan have changed their tactics meaning they now use more and more improvised explosive devices than before.

"IEDs pose a significant threat to the safety of our forces and we are looking at ways we can improve protection from them."

Who needs subtitles?

2009-02-21T03:45:00.001-08:00

RAF aircraft in successful North Sea helicopter rescue

2009-02-18T23:39:00.000-08:00

All 18 people aboard a helicopter which ditched in the North Sea are safe following a major multi-agency search and rescue operation involving RAF aircraft, the MOD can confirm.

Reports were received at around 1843hrs this evening, 18 February 2009, that a SUPER PUMA helicopter with 18 persons on board had ditched whilst making an approach to an offshore facility located approximately 120 miles East of Aberdeen.

A major rescue operation swung into action, coordinated by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency at the Aberdeen Coastguard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, and supported by the Royal Air Force.

Three helicopters and one fixed-wing aircraft were involved.

Rescue 51, the duty Search and Rescue NIMROD long-range maritime patrol aircraft from RAF Kinloss was scrambled and is was orbiting overhead the ditching location by around 1930hrs.

Rescue 137, a RAF Sea King from RAF Lossiemouth in Northern Scotland, and two civilian helicopters provided by Bond Helicopters, were on North Sea duties and travelled to the ditching location to commence search and rescue operations.

The sea state was reported to be 2 to 3 metre swells, with light winds and visibility of approx 1-2 kilometres in the vicinity.

One of the helicopters operated by Bond Helicopters winched 3 survivors onboard, and the remaining 15 survivors were taken onboard by a rig rescue vessel.

By 2045hrs, just over 2 hours after the first reports were received, all 18 passengers and crew had been rescued alive and in reasonably good condition.

In the short-term, all 18 survivors will be transferred to a nearby oil rig before being flown to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for more detailed medical checks.

British Army Structure 2008 - Present

2009-02-18T01:46:00.000-08:00

Household Calvery Regiment
The Life Guards
The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons)

Royal Horse Artillery

Royal Armoured Corps

1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys)
The Royal Dragoon Guards
The Queen's Royal Hussars (The Queen's Own and Royal Irish)
9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales's)
The King's Royal Hussars
The Light Dragoons
The Queen's Royal Lancers
Royal Tank Regiment
Special Reconnaissance Regiment

Royal Regiment of Artillery
Corps of Royal Engineers
Royal Corps of Signals

Guards

Grenadier Guards
Coldstream Guards
Scots Guards
Irish Guards
Welsh Guards

Infantry

The Royal Regiment of Scotland

The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires)
The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's, Lancashire and Border)

The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
The Royal Anglian Regiment
The Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th)
The Mercian Regiment

The Royal Welsh
The Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling) 83rd and 87th
and The Ulster Defence Regiment)
The Parachute Regiment
The Royal Gurkha Rifles

The Queen's Gurkha Engineers
Queen's Gurkha Signals
The Queen's Own Gurkha Transport Regiment

The Rifles
Special Air Service Regiment

Army Air Corps

Services

Royal Army Chaplains Department
Royal Logistic Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Adjutant General's Corps
Royal Army Veterinary Corps
Small Arms School Corps
Royal Army Dental Corps
Intelligence Corps
Army Physical Training Corps
General Service Corps
Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps
Corps of Army Music
The Gibraltar Regiment

Military chiefs hope to find a born hero

2009-02-18T00:47:00.000-08:00

Top military chiefs are looking for a hero, after experts found that some people really do possess the natural hero ‘gene’ which makes them effective in combat.

Recent research by US scientists has shown that the difference between somebody who acts calmly in stressful situations and somebody who panics is down to the stress hormone, cortisol.

People who face their fears bravely do not have the cortisol rush that those who buckle under pressure do, according to the findings at Yale University.

Researcher Deane Aikins said that this could mean that some people are born heroes, while others are natural cowards.

He said:

“There are some individuals who, when confronted with extreme stress, have quite a unique hormone profile.

“It doesn’t reach the same peak as the rest of us. So we’re all ready to scream…but there are individuals who just don’t get as stressed.”

After subjecting soldiers to concentration camp simulations and other highly stressful situations, Dr Aikins found that those who remained calm made less cortisol.

Now US military chiefs want to use the findings to create the perfect soldier. By using the right mix of steroids and mind-exercises, they hope to create the same hormonal conditions in the mind of an ordinary soldier.

Dr Aitkins, who was speaking at the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s annual conference said:

“In combative service you can’t turn down anybody. The question is how do you get folks who aren’t as cool in terms of stress turned up so they’re perhaps comparable. That’s the holy grail right now in the Department of Defence.”

He added that cutting stress could also reduce soldiers' chances of suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

65th anniversary of the Normandy Campaign

2009-02-17T03:15:00.000-08:00

The 65th anniversary of the Normandy Campaign is the 'final battle' for the British survivors to make their last journey to the D-Day beaches in honour of their fallen and wounded comrades.

Many cannot afford the trip to Normandy and need help. The British Government assisted them for the 'final’ commemoration in 2004 for the 60th anniversary however no government help is forthcoming this time.

The American and Canadian governments have promised financial aid to their veterans. As things stand, the British veterans of the Normandy Campaign will have to rely on their own resources and those of their families.

Our 'Heroes of Yesterday' should not be ignored or forgotten and should be given a helping hand.

Some £300,000 is needed to help the 1,000 or so British veterans to join their American and Canadian comrades in Normandy next year.

The Spirit of Normandy Trust has joined hands with The Normandy Veterans Association and the Help for Heroes charity for the ‘Help for Heroes of Yesterday and Today' campaign with the aim of raising money to send our veterans to Normandy at the same time as supporting the great work of the Help for Heroes charity - supporting our wounded servicemen and women injured in the current conflicts.

Show your support for "The Heroes of Yesterday and Today" by wearing the exclusive Normandy Lapel Pin, reserve your copy of The Official Spirit of Normandy Souvenir Journal 1944-2009 or simply by making a donation to the campaign.

£2.50 from every Journal sold and £1.50 from every lapel pin sold will be donated to both The Spirit of Normandy Trust (raising funds to send veterans to Normandy) and the Help for Heroes charity (support for our wounded servicemen and women injured in current conflicts).

Please CLICK HERE to show your support.

British troops defying Facebook 'ban'

2009-02-17T00:39:00.000-08:00

Members of the British Army are angry about a new legislation, which could see soldiers barred from using social-networking sites.

The Sun is reporting that troops working abroad who write about their exploits on websites like Facebook and MySpace may be breaching the army's "public disclosure of information" act.

It all stems from a new order, which was leaked to the paper this month. Titled 'Contact With The Media and Communicating In Public', the guidelines clamp down on the use of public websites, in regards to sensitive information being posted.

While the new communications ruling doesn't explicitly ban soldiers from using Facebook and the like, soldiers are showing their anger, with one NCO saying to The Sun:

"The fun police have taken over. I can't talk to my wife and kids or even play Call of Duty 5. Do they really think we're going to give away secrets?"

A spokesperson for the MOD told the paper:

"Of course soldiers are allowed to go on Facebook and contribute to blogs.

"But we need to ensure sensitive information is not inadvertently placed in the public domain. A routine instruction has merely been refreshed and reissued."

Three soldiers die in car crash after celebration

2009-02-16T00:53:00.000-08:00

The men, of 14th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare), were thought to have been at a pub celebrating Wales’s win over England in the Six Nations rugby championship.

They were found dead in their upturned car in Roch, Pembrokeshire, yesterday morning. It is believed that they had been driving back to barracks in Brawdy when the car left the road and hit a wall, flipping over and coming to rest in a pub car park where it was found by the landlord when he arrived for work. No other vehicle is thought to have been involved.

"The families of all three have been informed and have asked for a period of grace before any further details are released,” the Ministry of Defence said.

Update:
The soldiers who died in a car crash were named as Corporal Daniel Ginty, aged 26, Corporal James Luton, aged 24, and Lance Corporal Christopher Beckett, aged 25,

The supergun that kills from a mile - and the camouflaged crackshots using it against the Taliban

2009-02-15T00:43:00.000-08:00

British Army snipers call it 'the Silent Assassin' and it is the weapon the Taliban fear the most.

It is the British-made L115A3 Long Range Rifle which, in recent weeks, has killed scores of enemy fighters in Afghanistan.

In a new initiative on the front line, the Army is using sniper platoons to target the Taliban and 'The Long', as the snipers call it, can take out insurgents from a mile away.

Many of the elite marksmen who use the rifle make their own extraordinary suits of camouflage to stay hidden from the Taliban.

Some have been known to go 'under cover' for two days while they pick off the enemy.

Last week Army snipers were training with the rifle and full camouflage on the snow-covered ranges of the Support Weapons School at the Land Warfare Centre at Warminster, Wiltshire.

One of them, known as Yuppie, said: 'You could call it made-to-measure camouflage.

'This one is green string tied into sheets, then covered in straw with straps attached so it fits tight. It took three months and a lot of patience to make.'

His comrade Dean, who like Yuppie is a veteran of Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Northern Ireland, said: 'I wouldn't say us snipers are an elite, but we think we're a cut above the rest.'

The L115A3 Long Range Sniper Rifle - based on a weapon used by the British Olympic shooting team - weighs 15lbs, fires 8.59mm rounds and has a range of 1,100-1,500 yards.

Learn more about the rifle by visiting my equipment site: Click here

Step back to experience the Second World War

2009-02-15T00:29:00.000-08:00

The Royal Air Force Museum is set to roll back the clock for its visitors this half-term.

Visitors will be invited to step back in time to the Forties in a series of activities. From Monday to Friday, the RAF Museum, in Grahame Park Way, Colindale, will host one-hour exhibitions and allow adults and children to experience events, including the wartime classroom, where discipline will be the order of the day, and life on the Home Front, where a trip to a local grocery shop will require an ID card and ration book.

Visitors can also expect to meet an air raid warden recounting tales of what life was like during the war, the advice given on how to survive the bombings, as well as have the chance to look at authentic objects from the Second World War.

For more information on the Step Back in Time activities, or on the museum itself, visit www.rafmuseum.org.uk or call 020 8358 4896.

Link to site:Click here

'Civilian' Choppers for Secret SAS ops

2009-02-06T00:28:00.000-08:00

The SAS have bought four high-speed helicopters disguised for critical missions.

The £10million Eurocopter Dauphins are civilian aircraft fitted with military kit inside.

The choppers — with a top speed of 190mph — will be used in counter-terrorism operations, hostage crises or to ferry officers.

And its popularity with business bosses gives the SAS additional cover.

A special forces source said: “Nobody will bat an eyelid when one of them in civvy colours turns up over a built-up area.

“It looks the same as a corporate ride.”

Each Dauphin comes with state-of-the-art sensors and communications kit.

An extra fuel tank can be added for long-range missions.

The quiet rotor blade will allow troops to land close to targets unheard.

Women celebrate 60 years in army

2009-02-05T00:51:00.000-08:00

Women are celebrating 60 years of service in the British Army, after the formation of the Women's Royal Army Corps in 1949.

A reception, hosted by TV presenter Konnie Huq, will be held later for veteran and serving female soldiers and officers at Armoury House, London.

Although women played key roles in both world wars, it was in 1949 that they became fully subject to the Army Act.

Since then they have served in many major conflicts, including in Iraq.

Although women played a key military role in World War I as part of the Women's Auxiliary Army Corp and World War II in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), it was only in 1949 when the ATS was replaced by the Women's Royal Army Corps (WRAC) that they became officially part of the Army.

The WRAC existed until 1992 when women were fully integrated within their respective corps and the Army now employs more than 7,000 trained women - 7% of the Army.

More than 70% of army jobs are currently open to women, including more than 1,000 different job types.

Female brigadiers and colonels are also working in the intelligence, medical, dental, legal, educational, administrative, logistic and communications fields.

During the last 60 years, women in the Army have been awarded 66 medals for gallantry including the Military Cross.

Women have also been killed in the line of duty.

Most recently, Flt Lt Sarah-Jayne Mulvihill lost her life in Basra in 2006 and Cpl Sarah Bryant died in Afghanistan in June last year.

Lieutenant Colonel Eilean Cunningham, of the Army's Recruiting Group, paid tribute to the contribution of women to the Army throughout the last six decades.

"The contributions and achievements of women in the Army over the years have been phenomenal," she said.

She added:

"On the 60th anniversary of the WRAC, we today pay tribute to all army women - past, present and future, where we look forward to women breaking new boundaries and continuing to fulfil their potential with a career in the British Army."

TV presenter Konnie Huq, who is hosting the anniversary on Thursday, said she was "humbled" by the commitment and sacrifice soldiers, especially women, were willing to make.

"What strikes me most when I meet female soldiers is how alike they are to every other girl, they enjoy the same chat, they have the same interests and they are incredibly passionate about what they do."

Heroes Highway

2009-02-05T00:35:00.000-08:00

A town wants a road on which Britain’s war dead are carried to be named Highway of Heroes.

Locals turn out in their hundreds to honour fallen servicemen and women flown back to RAF Lyneham.

Hearses then bear the coffins along a three-mile country stretch of the A3102 into Wootton Bassett, Wilts.

It is there that crowds pay their respects — as they did yesterday when the body of Cpl Daniel “Danny” Nield, 31, was driven through the streets.

Cpl Nield, of 1st Battalion, The Rifles from Cheltenham, Gloucs, was killed in a “friendly fire” tragedy last week in Afghanistan.

An online petition now calls for the section of the A3102 to be renamed.

Christopher Wannell, a Tory councillor in Wootton Bassett, said:

“We are extremely supportive of our soldiers.

“The repatriation ceremonies are our way of recognising the sacrifice of the men and women who lay their lives on the line for our country.”

Council chiefs and the Royal British Legion have organised the homecoming ceremonies since RAF Lyneham became the MoD’s repatriation airbase in 2007.

Since then more than 100 coffins have passed through Wootton Bassett on the way to a mortuary at John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford.

Why we should honour Bomber Command

2009-02-04T07:11:00.000-08:00

On the April 26, 1944 - 20,000 feet above Germany. The Lancaster was returning from a successful bombing mission. But all was not well. An attack by a German fighter aircraft had caused serious damage, and a fire had started on the starboard wing. Home was many miles away.

The Lancaster's flight engineer, Sergeant Norman Jackson, was wounded in the attack. Yet, he responded to the emergency by volunteering to do something which, quite simply, defies belief.

It was bitterly cold outside the aircraft, and the Lancaster was flying at 200mph.

In a remarkable act of courage, Jackson attempted to do something extraordinary, even though he knew he could never retrace his steps. He clambered out of the cockpit, and crawled along the top of the fuselage with a fire extinguisher stuffed into his Mae West, intent on putting out the flames threatening the lives of all aboard.

As if Sergeant Jackson did not have enough on his plate, his parachute pack had come open, the contents spilling out into the cockpit. Other members of the crew gathered the parachute together, and paid it out as Jackson, undeterred, made his perilous way towards the wing.

In a heart-stopping moment he slipped and fell down the side of the fuselage towards the burning wing. He managed to grasp an air intake on the leading edge of the wing and somehow clung on.

Jackson was then engulfed by flames. He was swept over the wing, and plummeted to earth, dragging his burning parachute behind him. Miraculously, it managed to reduce the speed of his fall and Jackson survived.

For his endeavours that night, he received the Victoria Cross.

After Norman Jackson's death, his medals were sold at auction, and his VC forms part of the Ashcroft Collection, one of three Bomber Command VCs in the trust's possession.

We need little reminding of the Battle of Britain, nor of the importance to Britain of "The Few". But bear in mind that, during the whole of the Battle of Britain, just one VC was awarded - to Flight-Lieutenant J B Nicholson.

In contrast, no fewer than 19 VCs were awarded during the Second World War to Bomber Command.

Arguably the most famous of all time is Wing Commander Guy Gibson. He had been selected to command 617 Squadron, the "Dambusters". which was formed for special operations, one of which was the successful attacks on the Moehne and Eder dams. We remember the destruction of those dams, but we must not forget that 53 crew members died that night.

Gibson became a national hero, and was sent on a lecture tour of the United States. This was at a time when the first US airmen were returning home, having completed the arduous task of 25 missions. One of the first questions Gibson was asked was: "How many missions have you flown over Germany?"

The answer: "174."

Gibson's successor at 617 Squadron would also receive the VC, but it was for his post-war actions that Group Captain Leonard Cheshire VC is better known. After 100 operations against the enemy, Cheshire devoted the rest of his life to helping fellow men in ill-health or distress.

In addition to the heroes whom we remember, there are legions we are in danger of forgetting. All the nameless men who flew on missions over Nazi Germany and Occupied Europe knew the odds were often stacked against them. No fewer than 55,753 were killed.

The Battle of Britain has a permanent memorial in London, as it should. But the fact that Britain does not have a permanent memorial to Bomber Command is little short of shameful.

The Ashcroft Collection is to go on public display at the Imperial War Museum in 2010

'Shannon the Cannon' - Edinburgh's District Gunner

2009-02-04T00:41:00.000-08:00

The job of District Gunner at Edinburgh's historic castle is one of the highest profile jobs in the British Army.

The 27th man to fill the post is Sergeant Jamie Shannon, known as 'Shannon the Cannon'.

The role of District Gunner at Edinburgh Castle is prestigious as it encompasses maintaining and operating the UK's only 'time gun fire' and thereby carrying on a tradition spanning hundreds of years.

Sergeant Jamie Shannon, the latest to fill the sought after post, is from 105 Regiment Royal Artillery, the Scottish Territorial Army (TA). He took over the District Gunner role from his famous predecessor 'Tam the Gun', who fired the famous shot for almost a quarter of a century, four years ago.

Sgt Shannon was in the TA for 23 years before becoming the full-time District Gunner, first filling in when Tam was absent due to ill-health. He was eventually offered the job full-time after Tam sadly passed away.

Contrary to popular belief, the District Gunner does actually work for more than ten minutes a day and Sgt Shannon usually starts his day when he checks in with 105 Regiment at 0830 hrs:

"I service and clean the gun, as they say, if it's shiny, keep it shiny," Sgt Shannon said. "As the gun is electronically fired I also check the circuit daily to ensure that it is in working order. In addition to the One O'clock Gun, I'm also in charge of two other ceremonial guns which I also service regularly."

Having fired the gun countless times, Sgt Shannon recalls his proudest memory as firing at the Queen Mother's 100th birthday, and again for her funeral:

"These were times that I will never have a chance to be a part of again. I see Edinburgh Castle as being 'living history' and I love helping to keep the country's traditions alive. Tam always said that he was the second most photographed man in the city, after Adam 'William Wallace' on the Royal Mile."

Sgt Shannon recalls his very first day in the job as being his worst memory:

"I remember the pressure of the crowd waiting for the gun to go off - that fraction of a second felt like an eternity. Luckily, on my first day the gun went off without a hitch and in my four years I have experienced only two misfires."

Any District Gunner dreads a misfire as Sgt Shannon said:

"People just coming into the castle might not hear the bang of the gun going off, but everyone hears the click of a misfire. As people travel from all over the world to see the One O'clock Gun fired, they can be disappointed in the event of a misfire. I just say that they have come on a lucky day as everyone sees the gun fire but not so many have witnessed a misfire."

Another duty of the District Gunner is to fire the infamous cannon 'Mons Meg' during the BBC's 'Hogmanay Live' on television. Although Sgt Shannon says that this is a great honour, he says that the event is 'a bit Hollywood':

"The gunpowder seen to be loaded into the cannon is not actually used; it is, in fact, only a small amount of gunpowder that is exploded. This is because the last time the cannon was fired, at King James' wedding, it fractured, making it unsafe to be fired again. The cannon is linked, by cables, to speakers which simulate a bang and start the fireworks."

As one of the most prominent figures in Scotland's tourist industry, 'Shannon the Cannon' has fans from all over the world. He receives letters and even Christmas cards from as far afield as New Zealand, South Africa and California.

An additional aspect of the District Gunner's job involves answering tourists' questions: the most frequent of which is 'What time is the One O'clock Gun fired?'.

PUB TURNS AWAY PAIR WHO SERVE ON FRONTLINE

2009-02-03T00:28:00.000-08:00

Two Royal Marines were stopped from having a homecoming pint at their local after returning from the frontline in Afghanistan – when staff refused to recognise their military ID cards.

Dan Buchanan, 21, and Kelvin Billings, 22, were turned away at the Isambard Kingdom Brunel pub in Portsmouth when doormen said they didn’t look old enough.

They showed the cards – which included their pictures and dates of birth – but managers at the JD Wetherspoon pub insisted they were not an acceptable form of identification.

Lance Corporal Billings said:

“It would have been our first pint since getting back.

“We’ve used our Marines ID all over the world and it’s never been turned down before. We’d been back a matter of hours after serving our country for five months. I’m going back for another two months next week.

“I’d seen a fair bit of action and just wanted a pint of Kronenbourg with my best mate. I couldn’t believe it when they wouldn’t let us in.

“I could understand if there were 20 of us trying to get in, but it was just the two of us.

“It’s not like we even look under 18. Both of us have got moustaches and if anything look older than we are.

“Portsmouth only exists because of the armed forces – they’ve been based here for hundreds of years. We keep the pubs in this city going.”

Marine Buchanan added: “A day before I was putting my life on the line for Britain and yet that didn’t count for anything. We were disgusted and angry, to be honest.”

A spokesman for JD Wetherspoon said the company only accepts three forms of ID to combat fraud – a passport, driving licence or UK citizen card.

He said: “We have a really good relationship with the armed forces and welcome them into our pubs.

“In fact, we are currently running a promotion which offers discount to armed forces personnel.

“We apologise if the person was disappointed that he was not allowed in but we only accept a handful of forms of ID.”

Update 5th Feb 2009:
Following an executive meeting, the company apologised for their “mistake” and said they will now be accepting military IDs in all their Portsmouth pubs.

A Wetherspoon spokesman said:

“We made a mistake on this issue and we apologise. We have had a meeting and decided that from now we will accept military ID cards in all of our pubs in Portsmouth.

“It’s something that we perhaps didn’t have a clear view on before, so we are now happy to offer a definite point of view and policy on the issue.”

German troops return to France

2009-02-03T00:21:00.000-08:00

German soldiers are to be stationed in France for the first time since the Second World War, in a sign of ever closer military ties between the two historic foes.

A battalion of some 450-800 troops will probably be based near the north-eastern city of Strasbourg, but the two countries are still negotiating over the precise location, a diplomatic source said.

"The question of whether this will happen has basically been decided, it's now about the 'how' and 'how many' and 'where'," the source said.

Relations between Germany and France used to be bitterly hostile as a result of the 1870 Franco-German conflict and two world wars, but the former enemies now run a bi-national brigade and have shaped the core of Europe's joint defence strategy.

"The prospect of seeing German troops settle in France again regularly makes my grandfather splutter," wrote a French reader on the website of newspaper Liberation when the idea was first floated by Nicolas Sarkozy, the president, last November.

But for the online commentator it was something to welcome: "What an extraordinary symbol of Franco-German reconciliation" read the post.

Mr Sarkozy proposed the move amid negotiations over the future of the 5,000-strong French-German brigade, which has been on missions in Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan since it was founded 20 years ago.

The brigade's main units are currently stationed in the German towns of Donaueschingen, Muellheim and Immendingen. But their future looked uncertain after France said it would recall some of the troops to plug gaps left by military cutbacks and a strategic reshuffle of regiments at home.

Paratrooper defies his horrific injuries to walk progress has far exceeded all expectations, says mum

2009-01-31T01:37:00.000-08:00

Lance Bombardier Ben Parkinson suffered brain damage, lost both legs and received a series of other injuries in a landmine explosion in Helmand province in 2006. He is one of the most seriously injured servicemen to survive.

But now, after years of gruelling rehabilitation, the paratrooper has succeeded in walking on artificial legs at the Ministry of Defence’s Headley Court rehabilitation centre, near Epsom, Surrey.

His mother, Diane Dernie, 50, who lives in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, said:

“He’s been walking for quite a while now, although not in a normal environment. He can walk around the gym with just a walking frame, and he can come meet me down by the swimming pool on my visits. It’s just an extraordinary achievement, especially as his head injury took all his balance away.”

L/Bdr Parkinson, a member of 7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, can now stand independently, and although experts have told him he may never be a “functional” walker, able to move freely outdoors, his mother said his progress already has far exceeded the expectations of the medical profession.

“It was thought that he would never sit up, so to be walking, walking in any form, is fantastic,” she said.

“He wasn’t supposed to survive, or to regain consciousness. To walk, that’s just the icing on the cake for Ben.”

She said her son, who was told in December that he will be allowed to stay in the Army instead of being discharged, felt that learning to walk was a personal challenge.

But he will face another battle in April, two-and-a-half years after he was injured, when he is due to undergo back surgery to rectify curvature of the spine caused by damaged vertebrae.

Doctors were unable to operate because his condition was so serious. Now they plan to either support his spine, or remove the affected vertebrae completely in what Mrs Dernie termed a “massive” operation.

Blue-water cruise for HMS Manchester

2009-01-31T01:17:00.000-08:00

Crowds of well-wishers, wives and sweethearts gathered on the harbour side at Portsmouth earlier this week as HMS Manchester said goodbye to her base and set off on a voyage that will take her practically to the bottom of the world over the next seven months.

The deployment which will take her to South Georgia in the South Atlantic, Bermuda and the Pacific, will involve the destroyer and her crew in maritime security patrols to protect busy trade routes and suppress illegal activity.

There will also be lighter moments — flag-showing vists to ports in Brazil, Chile, Peru and the West Indies.

Nice work if you can get it!

Part-time Signals soldiers in UN mission to Cyprus

2009-01-31T01:11:00.000-08:00

With its current deployment to patrol the Green Line in Cyprus — the United Nations buffer zone that has since 1974 separated the Turkish and Greek parts of the island — 32 Signals Regiment Group has become the first Territorial Army unit to undertake a UN peacekeeping mission.

More than 200 reservists from 28 different TA units all over the UK have come together to serve under 32 Signals Regiment Group, which is normally based in Scotland.

As has been found in TA deployments in trouble spots in other areas of the world, the part-time soldiers, who will generally be a few years older than equivalent regular army soldiers in the field, can add an extra dimension to a complex mission like this one.

As Lieutenant-Colonel Huw Jenkins, CO of 32 Signals Regiment Group and one of the few regular officers on the tour, puts it: “The reservist soldiers can actually bring a lot to the task. They are mature, and have often approached things in a different light to their regular counterparts.”

Fresh insight into Stornoway’s important role in World War II New book highlights RAF squadrons’ battle against the U-boats

2009-01-31T00:32:00.000-08:00

With a population of just over 6,000, the main town on Lewis, surrounded by the Atlantic, might be overlooked by some as a place that played an important part in World War II.

But according to Mike Hughes and John Davenport, Stornoway provided an important base for members of the RAF, WAAF and Royal Navy during the war.

Their new book, Stornoway in World War Two, contains excerpts from logbooks and diaries and memories of those stationed in the town in wartime.

The aerodrome was home to a number of Coastal Command squadrons patrolling the North Atlantic for German U-boats.

Among the first to arrive in the town was 612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron, which made a number of attacks on enemy submarines during the summer of 1940.

Mr Hughes, from Bellshill, Lanarkshire, said:

“Not enough praise has been given over the years to the guys of 612. They served in all sorts of places – Stornoway, Dyce, Wick, Iceland, Wales.

“Some of 612 were Canadians, others Aberdonians, and they were just sent to Stornoway and fought a battle of Britain of their own.

The book also details the 200 attacks on German shipping made by squadrons 58 and 502 once they arrived at Stornoway.

Danish historian Carsten Peterson explains the role the two squadrons played in delaying 20,000 enemy troops from moving between Norway and Denmark to the Ardennes mountains in Belgium in December 1944.

The squadrons were able to fly the 1,225 miles from Stornoway to Norway to prevent the troops from entering Belgium and taking part in the Battle of the Bulge against Allied forces, a fact that Mr Peterson stresses in the book.

"Stornoway in World War Two" is available from www.is landsbooktrust.com, priced £6.

Ross Kemp: Return to Afghanistan - Sunday 1 February on Sky1 HD and Sky1

2009-01-30T02:09:00.000-08:00

Sky1's award-winning documentary team return to Helmand Province to experience life on Britain's front line ... and are almost immediately ambushed by the Taliban.

Ross Kemp's new series, "Ross Kemp: Return to Afghanistan", premieres on Sunday 1 February on Sky1 HD and Sky1 and is a follow-up to the critically acclaimed Ross Kemp in Afghanistan.

The five-part series sees Ross and his BAFTA® winning documentary team revisit the war-ravaged country to experience life on the front line and capture the heat of a war zone, all in high definition.

During his deployment Ross is embedded with Delta Company, part of the Canterbury based Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (5 Scots).

Ross investigates how things have changed since he was last in the province and how the British forces are combating the changing tactics of the Taliban. He also looks at the conditions endured by British forces and assesses how the reconstruction of the war-ravaged country is progressing.

In episode one, Ross and the team have just landed when they're told to pack their bags for their longest operation yet, north into the Taliban controlled Green Zone. After just 30 minutes on the ground, Ross and Delta Company are caught in the middle of a well orchestrated Taliban ambush, coming under severe small arms fire and RPG attack.

If this new series is half as good as the first it is a must watch.

Watch exclusive preview: Click here

Up for auction: General’s 125-year-old note

2009-01-28T01:21:00.000-08:00

A 125-year-old plea for rescue from General Gordon of Khartoum is to be sold.

The tiny note, written in Arabic, was sent to the British forces to alert them of his plight while trapped in the 10-month siege in Sudan in 1884.

The note was smuggled safely past Sudanese rebels in the beard of runner Mahamed Ahmed. But it was not until seven months later that the British Army managed to break through enemy lines – by which time General Gordon had been beheaded.

The note is being sold at Ludlow racecourse later this week and is expected to fetch around £700.

Royal Navy in largest deployment of recent years

2009-01-27T06:39:00.000-08:00

The Royal Navy is preparing to set sail for one of its largest deployments of recent years with the biggest RN Task Force to deploy to the Far East in more than a decade - headed by Plymouth's HMS Bulwark.

Taurus 09 aims to maintain the Royal Navy’s fighting capability as well as develop the UK’s 'capacity to operate with key partners and allies'.

The Task Force will conduct a wide range of activities including maritime security operations and exercising amphibious and anti-submarine warfare.

The Task Force comprises 12 ships, including a US Navy destroyer and a French Navy frigate, two nuclear powered submarines, Royal Marines from 40 Commando in Taunton, the Fleet Diving Unit, Assault Squadron Royal Marines from Plymouth, elements of 820 and 857 Naval Air Squadrons (NAS) from RNAS Culdrose, 847 NAS and Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) Sea Kings based in Yeovil and Support Helicopter Force Chinooks from 18 Squadron, RAF Odiham.

It will be joined by ships, troops and aircraft from other nations and at its height, 3,300 personnel will take part in the 20,400 mile round-trip deployment, interacting, training and building relations with 17 nations.

Minister of State for the Armed Forces Bob Ainsworth MP said:

"In addition to the Royal Navy’s contribution to current operations, exercising its open ocean and amphibious capability is vital to demonstrating its global reach and maintaining its capacity to deliver maritime security.

"This deployment illustrates the Navy’s versatility. It is a world class service and deploying this task group will hone its warfighting skills."

Phase One will involve amphibious training with nations in the Mediterranean, culminating in a series of amphibious landings in Turkey.

Phase Two will see part of the Task Group deploy through the Suez Canal, culminating in a multi-national training package in the jungles of Brunei. River training will also be conducted with the Bangladeshi Navy, the first such interaction in more than a decade.

Spearheading the deployment from his Command Ship, Devonport's, HMS Bulwark, is Royal Navy Commodore Peter Hudson CBE ADC, Commander UK Amphibious Task Group.

He said:

"Taurus is a great opportunity for the Royal Navy to demonstrate and practice a wide range of skills, specifically anti-submarine and amphibious warfare.

"Everybody involved is looking forward to this deployment, which has real opportunities for all.

"Deploying a maritime force across the globe for prolonged periods defines a premier Navy’s capability. It is what we do and we do it well. It is important for UK defence that we can take such a commitment in our stride."

The Task Force is expected to return in August.

Ships involved in TAURUS 09 are:

Landing Platform Dock (LPD) HMS BULWARK*

Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH) HMS OCEAN*

Type 23 Frigate HMS ARGYLL

Type 23 Frigate HMS SOMERSET*

United States Navy Guided Missile Destroyer USS MITSCHER*

French Navy Georges Leygues-class Frigate FS DUPLEIX

RFA MOUNTS BAY

RFA LYME BAY

RFA WAVE RULER*

RFA FORT AUSTIN

2 x Trafalgar Class submarines

Exercises will be conducted with countries including Malta, Gibraltar, Spain, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Brunei.

Arctic Aid to Heroes Charity

2009-01-27T06:23:00.000-08:00

Two Army pals are to run a two-day 100-mile race across the Arctic to aid The Sun-backed charity Help for Heroes.

Sgt Maj Mark Morgan, 36, and Regimental Sgt Maj Billy Morris, 37, will between them haul 120kg of kit and food on a sled in -35°C temperatures.

They will melt snow for drinking and cooking water. BA is flying the Royal Signallers to Canada for next month’s Arctic Race. Teams from all over the world take part.

Mark said: “We don’t expect to stop for sleep so it’s going to be a real challenge — but it’s a good way to raise money to help a great cause.”

Commander "dragged out" of Catterick

2009-01-14T00:15:00.000-08:00

Servicemen and women on Britain’s biggest army base said goodbye to their commander in the traditional way.

Brigadier Julian Free was "dragged out" of Catterick Garrison sitting in the turret of a Warrior armoured fighting vehicle.

Soldiers from 4th Mechanized Brigade heaved on two long ropes to pull their departing boss from Bourlon Barracks to the camp exit.

And other personnel from the Brigade lined the route, clapping as he passed by and then falling into procession behind.

They marched and pulled to the sound of bagpipes provided by the 1st Battalion The Scots Guards.

Brig Free has been the Commander of the Brigade for the last three years and during that time he has seen it train for and deploy to Iraq on Operation Telic 11.

He also had command when the Brigade moved from their former base in Osnabruck in Germany to Catterick just before Christmas.

After three cheers went up from the soldiers the brigadier addressed the troops before leaving the barracks for the final time in his staff car.

He spoke of his pride in having led the Brigade through a difficult tour of Iraq, thanked the soldiers for their commitment and professionalism and wished all members of the Brigade and their families the best for the future.

The command of the Brigade will now go to Brigadier Richard Felton.

Two books from George Cross 'hero' in 2009

2009-01-07T01:47:00.000-08:00

The publisher Century has acquired world rights to two books from "modern true British hero" Matthew Croucher.

Croucher was the soldier awarded the George Cross after risking his own life in order to save three of his fellow soldiers while on patrol in Afghanistan.

Century will publish a non-fiction hardback in September 2009 with a military fiction debut to follow.

Croucher tried to protect his comrades from a grenade by throwing himself to the ground and wrapping his rucksack and body around it. He was thrown some distance by the explosion, but due to the protection offered by his rucksack and body-armour, suffered only a nose-bleed and some disorientation.

"Matthew Croucher is a true British hero. He has been involved in some extraordinary actions, performed breathtaking acts of bravery and shown courage under fire. At a time when the general public’s bond with the Armed Forces has never been stronger, I believe Matthew will prove to be the most popular and significant soldier author in many years."

US Has Doubts over British Armed Forces

2009-01-07T01:15:00.000-08:00

Cracks are beginning to show in the military alliance between the US and Britain, after a confidential report circulated inside MoD that portrays the US as sceptical of the capability of the British Armed Forces.

Ongoing and persistent cuts to the defence budget along with a strong desire to pull out of Iraq and an apprehension to commit more troops to Afghanistan has led to serious doubts in the Pentagon and the corridors of power in Washington over Britain's military.

Feedback from the US was allegedly blunt and dismissed Britain's capabilities.

"It showed that the Americans don't value us much," a source told a Times columnist. "Britain's military ability is no longer rated as highly as we thought it was."

US Generals are alleged to have complained about the frequency in which they have to provide support to British troops in operations. The belief is that Britain cannot go it alone. There is also longstanding discontent with the decision to reduce and withdraw British troops from Iraq.

These reservations and doubts are expected to continue. Prime Minister Gordon Brown continues to resist sending large numbers of additional troops to Afghanistan despite pleas by the US. The strain on the defence budget is also expected to continue for some time, leading to serious shortfalls in defence capabilities.

The incoming president Barack Obama is alleged to be less than enthused with the "special relationship." He has no direct links with Britain and his Defense Secretary Robert Gates is believed to be an Anglo sceptic.

Foreign Office officials down played the potential rift, saying that while it was not terminal, it was an important warning.

HMS Westminster at London Boat Show

2009-01-05T07:48:00.000-08:00

HMS Westminster will be the Royal Naval warship on display at the London Boat Show, 9-18 January.

HMS Westminster, a type 23 Frigate, was launched in 1992 and commissioned into service in 1994.

The highly versatile multi-role warship can take on any mission from anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare protecting capital ships and merchantmen; to providing humanitarian aid in the wake of a natural disaster.

The Type 23s have a specially designed superstructure that makes them hard to detect with radar although visitors to London's largest Boat Show will find it a little easier to locate HMS Westminster, which will be moored outside on the marina throughout the duration of the show.

Commander K M T Houlberg, Commanding Officer of HMS Westminster, comments:

"Following our recent visit to London in November when my Ship's Company exercised their right to the Freedom of the City of Westminster with a march past, it is a great honour and fantastic opportunity to be returning so soon to London in support of the British leisure and marine industry at the London International Boat Show at ExCeL, which I and my Ship's Company are very much looking forward to!"

Andrew Williams, Managing Director of NBS, says:

"We're pleased to welcome both HMS Westminster to the 55th London International Boat Show. Each year, Royal Navy vessels prove to be incredibly popular features at the Show receiving around 25,000 visitors over the ten days, and we're confident that this year will be no exception."

Haggling order of the day for Camp Bastion shoppers

2008-12-24T00:34:00.000-08:00

Pashminas, rugs and gun holsters – these are some of the few options open to British troops in Afghanistan looking to do some last-minute Christmas shopping.

Many soldiers are relying on their wives at home to make sure Santa makes the kids happy. Others have gone online to order presents.

But at Camp Bastion, there is at least a little bit of shopping to be done.

Beside the Naafi, (Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes), which sells everything from goggles and gadgets to nibbles and Nuts magazine, there are four Afghan stalls operating out of shipping containers.

Service personnel can bargain for Afghan shawls, gems and ornaments, or haggle over DVDs, watches and military equipment.

Shopkeeper Mohammed Ismael transports his wares from Kandahar but lives just outside the camp.

At Kandahar, one of Isaf’s main operating bases in southern Afghanistan, there are a few more shopping options. A Jingly Market takes place every Saturday, when local traders set up a bazaar.

But the signs on the way in would look somewhat out of place on Oxford Street – “All Weapons Must Be Unloaded” and “This Is A Buyer Beware Environment”.

2008-12-24T00:28:00.000-08:00

Public send record donation of festive gifts to troops on Helmand front line

2008-12-21T01:48:00.000-08:00

British troops in Afghanistan are being deluged with a record 1,000 mailbags a day from well-wishers and charities as they prepare to spend Christmas Day far from home. An extraordinary eight tonnes of presents have been arriving every day at Camp Bastion, the main British garrison in Helmand province.

Military postal staff are working day and night to sort and distribute it by Chinook or Sea King helicopters to remote patrol bases in the desert.

A similarly vast logistical operation aims to ensure that as many soldiers as possible can enjoy a traditional Christmas dinner with trimmings. But the ban on alcohol "in theatre" remains firmly in place and officially it will be business as usual. It has been a bleak December for Britain's 8,100 military personnel in Afghanistan with six deaths in as many days.

"What is required workwise is exactly the same as on any other day," said Richard Davies, the garrison sergeant-major at Camp Bastion. "In the margins we try to mark the occasion any which way we can. We've had fantastic support from people sending cards and parcels out through the system. We've got nuts and Twiglets and crisps and Pringles and all sorts of nibbles to keep us going well into the new year and it's all really appreciated."

Despite a plea from the Ministry of Defence for the public not to overburden the system with unsolicited parcels addressed "to a soldier", this year's mail delivery to Afghanistan is up 60% on the same period in 2007. The British Forces Post Office sent 13,532 bags to Afghanistan last month; given that an average mailbag contains 50 items and weighs 8kg, November's cargo added up to more than 100 tonnes. At the last count, the deliveries had increased to around 1,000 bags, or eight tonnes, of mail per day, flown into Kandahar via chartered Boeing 747 jumbo jets, then on to Bastion in RAF Hercules aircraft. The postal and courier squadron at Bastion has expanded from nine to 13 people working round the clock, with some doing a 12-hour night shift. As he gazed at the mountains of grey mailbags towering over him, operations officer Captain Aaron Reid said: "We've had Christmas trees, wellies and a lot of biscuits and chocolate. The strangest thing was two giant boxes of VHS videos, which aren't much use out here."

British military personnel in Afghanistan will be among 24,500 serving overseas or in hospital to receive a gift box, or "square stocking", from the charity uk4u-Thanks! This year each box, containing a mix of snacks, novelty items, toiletries and other "useful products", has an estimated retail value of £50. The first such Christmas box was a brass tin produced in 1914 on the suggestion of George V's daughter, Princess Mary, which contained cigarettes, tobacco and pencils.

Decorations have sprung up all over Bastion, including trees improvised from wire and pieces of tinsel attached to tanks and gun barrels. Festivities will begin in earnest on Christmas Eve with midnight mass at three venues at Bastion and other bases in Helmand. There will be an open-air carol service on Christmas morning with music from the Royal Marines band, followed by a traditional Christmas lunch, with sub-unit comrades sitting together in decorated mess halls where possible. A long tradition by which enlisted men are served by the officers for the day is on the wane, but there are likely to be some bright-red Santa hats in all ranks.

Some 150 whole turkeys and 999 turkey breast rolls are being sent to servicemen and women in overseas operational theatres, according to the Ministry of Defence. They will be complemented by 2,600 bags of brussels sprouts, 1,169 jars of cranberry sauce, 1,331 Christmas cakes, 1,416 Christmas puddings, 34,740 mince pies and 39,000 After Eight mints. Thousands of party hats, balloons, crackers and streamers are also on the way.

But there will be no wine or spirits, so the troops will turn to substitutes. Richard Davies said: "Our Danish counterparts are good at acquiring Becks' non-alcoholic bottles. It sounds bizarre, but just being able to toast something is quite nice. I managed to have a bottle when I watched Lewis Hamilton in the Grand Prix. It was just a little bit nicer than perhaps having a cup of tea or can of Coke."

In the afternoon at Bastion the Royal Marines band will put on another concert, while films will be projected on to the wall of a giant aircraft hangar. Davies said: "I've asked for It's a Wonderful Life as my favourite festive film." Soldiers have been given the chance to record messages and stories for their children to receive on Christmas Day. At Bastion they have ready access to phones, email and "e-blueys", a service that turns emails into printed, automatically enveloped messages.

"It's always a hard time to be away," Davies added. "Christmas is essentially a family time and we're not with our families, although from an army perspective when you join up the army becomes your family. But if you've got young children, a wife, parents and grandparents at home, it's always harder for them, because we're out here doing it, while they are sitting watching the news, reading the newspapers, never exactly sure what you're up to or what's going on.

"I think you'll see a few people knocking around, just having a quiet moment on the day, especially those with young children, or even old children. I've got a 20-year-old son and I'm sure I'd rather be spending it with him and his mother than out here. But that's what we sign up for, unfortunately, and inevitably it will happen not once but several times in your military career."

British troops won't let the Taliban get in the way of their Christmas dinner

2008-12-20T00:05:00.000-08:00

British troops in Afghanistan faced the prospect of a vegetarian Christmas dinner after the Taliban roasted their turkeys.

Thousands of troops feared they would be left eating spuds and sprouts after insurgents turned a lorry-load of frozen turkey to cinders.

But defence chiefs saved the day by rushing out an emergency consignment of turkey rolls to replace the 325 bird breasts weighing 900kg that went up in smoke.

Now hundreds of troops from 1st Battalion the Rifles, based at Beachley Barracks in Chepstow, will be able to tuck into a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

The consignment of 350 frozen birds was being transported from Pakistan to Camp Bastion in Helmand province when it was attacked.

Regimental Catering Warrant Officer Nick Townley, who is in charge of organising Christmas dinner for 5,000 troops, said: "Unfortunately one of our Christmas wagons got taken out, so a lot of turkeys had to be flown in especially."

Mr Townley has been working since the summer to make sure the officers can serve dinner to junior ranks to show their appreciation for a year of hard work. He is charged with making sure 3,000 troops at the base and 2,000 more scattered around Helmand province get a taste of home over the festive period.

And anyone worried about the prospect of cooking the family Christmas dinner should spare a thought for his team of 35 chefs who are faced with feeding 5,000 troops in a battle zone.

Next week they have to prepare and cook 330lbs (148.8kg) of sprouts, 660lbs (300kg) of potatoes, and 265lbs (120kg) of carrots. As well as the turkey rolls, they will be cooking 300lbs (135kg) of roast pork, 935lbs (424kg) of gammon and 150lbs (67.5kg) of beef.

For dessert the troops will share 222 Christmas puddings with brandy-free sauce and 37 Christmas cakes. But they will get just one mince pie and a single After Eight mint each after the £3.42 a head dinner. Mr Townley said:

"We will have everything prepared for Christmas Eve. The plan is for the guys not to slog their guts out on Christmas Day. They will all get their Christmas dinner at some stage, it just might not be on Christmas Day.

"It's a big struggle to get this stuff out. Not all the bases have fridges and freezers and transporting it all is a big operation."

As well as turkey and tinsel, British soldiers will also receive a Christmas box that includes a multi-tool, three juggling balls, a sewing kit and a travel pillow. Some 3,000 crackers, 2,880 party poppers, 3,600 assorted balloons, 2,880 party hats, and 3,000 streamers have been ordered for Camp Bastion.

But Commander Paula Rowe, spokeswoman for Task Force Helmand, said there would be little time to party because Christmas Day would be "business as usual" for most soldiers in Afghanistan.

She said:

"Operations will be ongoing, but never underestimate the ingenuity of the men and women to at least have a little bit of festive cheer wherever they are. However we spend the day, our thoughts will inevitably turn to our colleagues who have been killed or injured and their families and loved ones for whom this Christmas will be very different."

RAF Jets See Off Russian Bombers

2008-12-14T01:07:00.000-08:00

RAF Tornados were scrambled to intercept two Russian bombers as they threatened to enter UK airspace, it has emerged.

The British planes were part of a special "quick response" squadron scrambled from RAF Leuchars in Scotland.

An air-to-air refuelling tanker was also sent up in case the mission lasted longer.

The Russian Tu-160 Blackjack bombers were tracked on radar as they headed for the North East coast on Thursday night.

The Tornados took off just before 10.30pm and tailed the bombers until about 1.30am on Friday.

Sky News understands the Russian aircraft crossed a section of airspace controlled by the UK, but the Ministry of Defence has refused to confirm or comment.

However, the MoD has confirmed the North Sea encounter.

A spokesman told Sky News Online:

"Incursions into UK and Nato-monitored airspace from Russian aircraft have occurred on a number of occasions and these aircraft have been identified and tracked, usually before they arrive in UK and Nato airspace, by Nato partners."

A Russian air force spokesman said the bombers were on a "patrol mission".

Colonel Vladimir Drik said Russia resumed regular missions by strategic bombers over the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic oceans last August, and that they posed no threat to other countries.

Russia always gave notice of upcoming patrols, he added.

In July 2007 RAF Tornados were scrambled to intercept Tupolev Tu-95 Bears as they threatened to enter UK airspace.

At the time, the MoD said such an encounter was "rare".

RAF Leuchars is home to two squadrons of RAF Tornado aircraft.

Both are part of the QRA (quick reaction alert) structure, first set up to combat the threat of possible Russian attacks during the Cold War.

Catterick instructors to be court martialled over bullying

2008-11-21T00:11:00.000-08:00

Four training instructors will face a court martial following allegations of physical abuse and harassment at Britain's biggest army base, it emerged tonight.

Claims of bullying at Catterick training barracks in North Yorkshire came to light during an undercover investigation by the BBC in September.

Recruits complained of being battered, punched and kicked by instructors. One claimed his shoes had been urinated on by an officer.

Junior Defence Minister Kevan Jones said today that the Army Prosecuting Authority had directed that four people should face a military trial.

Mr Jones said the four individuals were already being investigated by the Ministry of Defence before the documentary was broadcast. Defence sources said the four people were all male training instructors.

In a Commons written reply to Labour's Joan Humble (Blackpool N and Fleetwood), Mr Jones said: "We were already aware of some of the allegations made by the BBC in its The Undercover Soldier documentary in September.

"A Royal Military Police (Special Investigation Branch) investigation had been initiated in February.

For those we were not aware of, an RMP(SIB) investigation was launched as soon as the BBC made us aware of their concerns. These investigations are continuing."

He went on: "The Army Prosecuting Authority has now directed that four individuals, who were the subject of allegations of which we were already aware and which we were investigating, should face trial by Court Martial".

Five training instructors were suspended as the BBC prepared to screen its documentary on September 18.

Defence sources at the time said three officers had already been suspended at Catterick before they were made aware of the television investigation.

But another two were suspended after they received the report from Russell Sharp, who went undercover as an infantry recruit at the base for six months.

The Government had previously pledged to crackdown on bullying in the Army following the scandal at Deepcut involving the deaths of four teenage recruits between 1995 and 2002.

£330m 'super' military digs open

2008-11-19T01:31:00.000-08:00

The biggest army base in the UK has officially opened after a £330m makeover, with thousands of troops moving to the site in North Yorkshire.

Catterick Garrison, home to 13,000 civilian and military residents, has been nicknamed a "super garrison" after its accommodation was refurbished.

Army bosses acknowledged past criticism of military digs and said Catterick was "indicative of future standards".

Six thousand soldiers have now been relocated from Germany to Catterick.

The new accommodation was celebrated at a formal opening

The relocation of the 4th Mechanized Brigade, also known as the "Black Rats", and the opening of the new accommodation were celebrated at a formal opening ceremony.

'Spiritual home'

Black Rats commander Brigadier Julian Free described the relocation to Yorkshire as a "return to our spiritual home".

He said: "Our single soldiers have been thrilled to arrive back to newly-completed en-suite bedrooms."

The Black Rats had previously been located in Osnabruck, Germany for 27 years.

The Defence Minister responsible for military accommodation, Kevan Jones, said:

"There has been a legacy of underfunding in armed forces housing, so today's opening ceremony at Catterick is evidence of progress that we are now starting to see."

Apart from 2,800 new bedrooms, the MoD is also building a physiotherapy centre, a leisure centre and redeveloping Catterick town centre.

One million poppies are dropped over the QE2 Armistice day commemorated on QE2’s last voyage

2008-11-12T01:28:00.000-08:00

To signal the two-minute silence at 11am, a DeHavilland Beaver aircraft, accompanied by an Auster, flew over the vessel.

A Harrier jet then flew over and dipped its nose in tribute.

The 40-year-old boat, which was carrying over 2,000 passengers, is now being taken out of service. It will be turned into a floating hotel in Dubai.

March Reunion.2009 - The Park Hotel, Falkirk

2008-11-12T01:17:00.001-08:00

Friday 6th – Monday 9th March 2009, Cost £99 per person.

A deposit of £30pp when booking. There are 25 rooms left, 30 rooms already booked.
Sunday outing will be arranged.
Phone Jim to book please on 01324 626173.

The Festival of Remembrance commemorates Nation's war heroes Past and present victims of conflict remembered in Legion’s annual event

2008-11-09T00:40:00.000-08:00

Members of the Royal family were in attendance at the Royal Albert Hall last night for the Legion’s Festival of Remembrance to pay their respects to the generations of service personnel that have served Britain.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh joined Prime Minister Gordon Brown and veterans in a service of Remembrance and a two-minute silence, in an event that also marked the 90th anniversary of the end of WWI.

Also in attendance were HRH the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke of York, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

Classical singers Katherine Jenkins, Russell Watson, Hayley Westenra, Jonathan Ansell and Blake performed alongside The Massed Bands of the Household Division, the Band of HM Royal Marines, the Band of the Parachute Regiment, the RAF Squadronaires and the Queen's Colour Squadron of the Royal Air Force.

At the end of the event, thousands of poppies were dropped from the roof as the hall fell silent for two minutes as a mark of respect.

A spokesperson from The Royal British Legion, said: "This annual festival commemorates and honours all those who have lost their lives in conflicts and is both a moving and enjoyable evening."

2008-11-09T00:26:00.001-08:00

RAF Help Blind Pilot Land

2008-11-08T00:27:00.000-08:00

A pilot who went blind at 15,000ft after suffering a stroke kept saying sorry to his rescuers as he made seven botched attempts to land.

Jim O’Neill, 65, spent 45 terrifying minutes flying blind in his Cessna 125 plane before an RAF pilot and air traffic controllers talked him down.

Wing Commander Paul Gerrard, 42, bravely flew within 300ft of Jim to guide him on to the runway.

Controller Terry O’Brien said last night: “Mr O’Neill just kept apologising for not being able to land and saying he couldn’t see the airfield.”

The drama unfolded over North Yorks 40 minutes into the solo flight from Glasgow to Colchester, Essex.

The stroke caused a blood clot to press on an optic nerve. Controllers at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, near York, first thought he was merely dazzled by the sun as his plane lost height and deviated off its planned route.

But when the Cessna dipped to 5,000ft, they asked Jim if he had a problem. He replied: “I would like to get down.”

They tried to get him to touch down at Full Sutton airfield. But as the holiday firm boss was 1,500ft over the runway, he could not see anything below him.

The team directed Jim 20 miles away to Linton so they could talk him on to the 4,000ft-long runway at the former bomber base.

Terry said: “He came in but missed the runway, even though we are on a massive airfield.” Luckily, Wing Cmdr Gerrard was on a training sortie in his Tucano plane and was scrambled to help Jim land.

On his eighth attempt, the poorly pilot touched down at high speed, bouncing twice and screeching to a halt at the end of the strip.

Jim said later: “I should not be alive. I owe my life — and those of dozens of people I could have crash-landed on — to the RAF.

“It was terrifying. Suddenly I couldn’t see the dials.”

Paul said: “I was happy to help a fellow aviator in distress. Landing an aircraft blind needs someone to say, ‘Left a bit, right a bit, stop’.”

Radar controller Sgt Richard Eggleton, who also helped, said: “Being up there on your own without sight doesn’t bear thinking about.”

Jim, who has flown for 19 years, was taken to Queen’s Hospital, Romford. And last night son David, 37, of Colchester, revealed his dad had started to regain his sight.

He said: “It’s hard to believe what the RAF did. They were just tremendous.”

He said Jim now plans to visit the base to thank them.

WWII code-breaker home Bletchley Park gets vital repairs

2008-11-07T00:15:00.000-08:00

Campaigners hoping to restore dilapidated Bletchley Park, where Second World War code-breakers deciphered the German Enigma machine, have received a major boost with a £330,000 English Heritage grant to repair the roof.

Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire is to recieve a grant from English Heritage.

Seeping rainwater has threatened the structure of the Grade II listed Victorian Gothic building near Milton Keynes, described as being as important as the Cabinet War Rooms.

The Bletchley Park Trust spent £100,000 starting repairs on the Victorian roof this summer but ran out of money.

Simon Greenish, director of the trust, said the work was the "first really big step" in saving the building and turning it into a "world class" £10 million education and heritage centre.

He said of Bletchley Park: "Only the Cabinet War Rooms are of equal importance. It was in these two places that the outcome of World War Two was decided."

The grant will make the building water-tight and ensure its interior features - such as decorative plaster work, painted ceilings and timber panelling - do not deteriorate further.

Despite its critical importance to modern British history, Bletchley Park is not funded directly by the government. It was in a very poor state of repair when the trust took it on in 1992, turning it into a museum.

Dr Simon Thurley, chief executive of English Heritage, said:

"Bletchley Park played a fundamental role in the Allies winning the Second World War and is of great importance to the history of Europe.

"English Heritage is committed to saving this fascinating group of buildings so that future generations can understand something of the enormous human endeavour which went on there."

It has also pledged £300,000 over three years - if match-funding comes from elsewhere - to help restore three of the Grade II listed wooden code-breaking huts where some of the most important breakthroughs were made. Operations were so secret that workers in one hut were banned from talking to those in another. Now they are rotting away.

Speaking from the restored Hut 8, Mr Greenish said: "It was here that the Battle of the Atlantic was won."

BBC remembers "The Fallen".

2008-11-06T01:13:00.000-08:00

The Fallen
Saturday 15 November
9.05pm-12.05am BBC TWO

British troops have now been in Afghanistan for over seven years and in Iraq for over five. The Fallen is a powerful and poignant film in which families and friends of those who have died talk openly about their feelings, their loved ones and their grief. Epic in scale and spanning seven years of war, this landmark film gives a rare insight into the personal impact and legacy of this loss.

Alongside intimate testimonies from families who have lost loved ones, The Fallen names every single serviceman and woman who has died while serving with the British Armed Forces in Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001.

Behind each of these names there are family members who have suffered and will continue to do so – through telling the stories of a significant number, The Fallen highlights the immense sacrifice made by these servicemen, women and their families.

Made by acclaimed film-maker Morgan Matthews, The Fallen goes across Britain and into the homes of those who have lost loved ones: the little girl who sings the special song she has written to her daddy; the grandparents who show the video diaries filmed by their grandson out in Iraq; the mother who shows the outfit her son was famous for dressing up in to go "out on the pull"; the sister who goes to the grave to talk to her brother up in Heaven; and the fiancée whose partner had asked her to marry him shortly before he was killed. The Fallen also uses cherished personal home movie footage featuring those who have died, as well as archive footage, leaving a lasting impression of their lives both inside and out of the Armed Forces.

Broadcast on BBC Two Saturday 15 November, The Fallen is a stark reminder of the human cost of conflict.

Training exercises continue to be axed

2008-11-01T01:48:00.000-07:00

Nearly ten per cent of all training exercises in 2008 have been cancelled according to the MoD, including a growing number purely for savings.

Of the 584 training exercises that have occurred in 2008, 55 (9.4 per cent) have been cancelled. Nearly one third of the cancellations, 18 in total, were cancelled to save money or due to budgetary issues.

While some cancellations were due to partnering nations pulling out or civil unrest in the areas in which training was to take place, many of the cancellations exhibited the overstretch both in the Armed Forces and within its budget. Additional exercises were cancelled because the designated units or equipment was not available. In eight other cases units designated for training were deployed on operations before they could partake in the exercises.

Training has become an increasingly expensive affair in a budget conscious department. In April MoD officials revealed that the department spends over £1bn on training exercises on an annual basis. Combat training has been reduced by 50 per cent in recent years, as commanders have sent infantry personnel into operations to learn on the job. Paratrooper training has also sharply declined due to the high cost of jet fuel and the need for planes in operations.

General Sir Richard Dannatt, the outgoing chief of the general staff has repeatedly argued that the need for training troops has never been higher. While some may think that operations themselves provide an excellent arena for training, Sir Richard has argued that troops need to be prepared to deal with insurgent warfare.

Last October Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary Nick Harvey said that the increase in training exercise cancellations was proof that the Forces were overstretched: "We need to be on top of the crucial task of training to maintain high levels of skills and expertise. If these exercises are abandoned then we are in danger of undermining our operations."

The number of cancellations actually represents a small decline from 2007 when 76 training exercises were cancelled.

Poppy preserved in Army pay book for 66 years

2008-10-31T00:43:00.000-07:00

As Remembrance Day approaches, a Second World War veteran has revealed he still has a poppy he plucked from a field in North Africa in 1942, while engaged in combat with German forces.

The Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal encourages everyone around the UK to buy and wear synthetic poppies with pride, showing their support for veterans of all conflicts and current members of the Armed Forces.

No-one can be more proud of their poppy though than decorated war veteran Alf Heywood whose now delicate and fading poppy has been protected inside the pages of the Army pay book he carried in his pocket through battlefields in Africa and Italy during the Second World War.

He revealed his remarkable reminder of the sacrifices of British Service personnel during a visit, on the day the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal was launched last week, to 207 Field Hospital (Volunteers) during an exercise at the Army's hospital training facility in Strensall, York.

When Alf was mobilised for service in 1942, he was processed through Strensall before joining 2nd Battalion The Lancashire Fusiliers. 207 Field Hospital, which is based in Manchester, offered Alf, from Middleton, Greater Manchester, the opportunity to come and see the same Army camp now.

During the visit Alf produced, from the breast pocket of his suit jacket, behind the modern British Legion poppy worn on his lapel, his Second World War pay book. He flicked through its pages and showed the soldiers the poppy he'd picked himself in Tunisia, North Africa.

The poppy is now taped to one page, with a note above that reads: "Poppy picked by Alf Heywood, while in action, with the 2nd Bln Lanc's Fus, 78th Div, 1st Army, North Africa 1942."

Now a great-grandfather, Alf explained that German forces were advancing towards his position and visible on a distant hillside:

"We were patrolling through this field in North Africa. It was full of poppies. I picked one and put it in my book and thought nothing of it. I only found it again a couple of years ago."

Alf was called up for service aged 21 and, after training at Strensall and later in Scotland, he boarded a ship bound for North Africa. He was captured for a short while by German troops and kept with others inside a hut - but was released shortly after when his small number of captors fled. He would later take part in the Allied invasion of Sicily. He is a decorated former soldier, having been 'mentioned in dispatches' for actions during the war.

Alf, a widower, was demobilised in November 1946. He returned to Middleton and his wife Bessie, and continued his trade as a plumber until retirement. He says he eventually plans to donate his poppy and pay book to the Fusiliers' Museum in Bury.

Hero marine who threw himself on grenade to receive George Cross medal from Queen

2008-10-30T01:00:00.000-07:00

A Royal Marine who threw himself on a hand grenade to save his comrades is to receive the George Cross medal at Buckingham Palace.

L/Cpl Matthew Croucher is only one of a select group of 20 living recipients of the medal, awarded for acts showing the same degree of heroism as the Victoria Cross.

He will receive his award from the Queen this morning.

L/Cpl Croucher, 24, was part of a company of 40 Commando sent to investigate a suspected Taliban bomb-making factory near the town of Sangin when he set off the trip-wire that unleashed the grenade.

He jumped on the hand grenade, part of a Taliban booby trap, during an operation in Afghanistan earlier this year.

He had less than seven seconds to make up his mind about whether to risk sacrificing his own life to save his friends, and chose to save his colleagues.

Speaking after the incident in February in Helmand province, he said: "It was a case of either having four of us as fatalities or badly wounded or one."

He added: "I thought I've set this bloody thing off and I'm going to do whatever it takes to protect the others."

The marine dived onto the floor, rolled over and used his backpack to cover the shrapnel fragments from the blast.

When the grenade exploded he was thrown through the air but suffered only a nosebleed.

"It took 30 seconds before I realised I was definitely not dead," he added.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, Chief of the Defence Staff, said in July, when the announcement of the George Cross was made:

"L/Cpl Croucher showed extraordinary bravery, self-sacrifice and devotion to duty. I am hugely impressed by what he did, but not surprised. He highlights the very fine calibre of young people we have in our armed forces."

Guilty: Secret Files Left on Train

2008-10-29T01:52:00.000-07:00

A senior civil servant today pleaded guilty to breaching the Official Secrets Act after leaving top-secret documents on a train.

Richard Jackson, 37, of Yateley, Hampshire, entered his guilty plea at the City of Westminster magistrates court.

His case followed an investigation launched in June after highly sensitive Whitehall intelligence files on al-Qaida and Iraq were left on a train from London.

A member of the public found them inside an orange cardboard envelope on a train from Waterloo station to Surrey and passed them on to the BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner.

One of the documents was a seven-page report by the joint intelligence committee entitled Al-Qaida Vulnerabilities.

Classified as top-secret, the intelligence assessment on al-Qaida was so sensitive that every document was numbered and marked "for UK/US/Canadian and Australian eyes only".

It is understood the assessment also contained reports on the state of the Islamist terror network in Afghanistan and neighbouring Pakistan.

The document reportedly contained names of individuals or locations that might have been useful to Britain's enemies.

The second document, commissioned from the committee by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), contained an analysis of Iraq's security forces. It included a top-secret and in some places "damning" assessment of Iraq's security forces.

Jackson was on secondment to the Cabinet Office from the MoD at the time the documents were lost.

The court heard that the intelligence files "had the potential to damage national security and UK international relations".

Jackson, who had taken the files home inadvertently, was "physically sick" when he discovered their loss, the court was told.

Throughout the proceedings, Jackson spent much of his time with his head in his hands. Neil Saunders, defending, said his client accepted his mistake but "there was never any risk to any lives whatsoever".

Saunders said: "He was under extreme pressure at this time and it may well be partly because of his own role, the team he was leading and the work he was being asked to conduct that he has made this gross error of judgment."

He said Jackson had a host of glowing references that showed he was "someone who would never deliberately let anyone down".

The court heard how Jackson did not report the loss of the files until the following day as his immediate bosses were abroad.

Deborah Walsh, prosecuting, said: "This delay in reporting delayed any action to recover the files. There's ample evidence that Mr Jackson failed to take such care to prevent the unauthorised disclosure of the documents as somebody in his position may reasonably be expected to take."

The security breach was the latest in a series that has embarrassed the government.

In November last year, discs containing child benefit records of 25 million people were lost. In January the details of 600,000 potential recruits were lost by a naval officer.

He was ordered to pay a fine of £2,500.

Search and Rescue(SAR) contract in need of a rescue

2008-10-28T02:53:00.000-07:00

Plans to privatise Search and Rescue (SAR) operations descended into chaos over the weekend after it emerged that the leading bidder for the programme had withdrawn its bid.

UK Air Rescue was believed by most observers to be the leading contender to win the private contract with the MoD to lead SAR operations. The deal was worth an estimated £2bn over 25 years. The consortium is made up of Bristow Helicopters, Agusta Westland, Cobham and FB Heli Services.But on Friday night the team withdrew from the bidding process

Allan Blake, a director of Bristow Helicopters said:

‘We have no plans to re-enter the bidding process.

"We are still talking to the MoD about the reasons for that withdrawal. It is a very big statement to make when companies like these withdraw from a bid of this size."

Now two consortiums remain in the bidding process for the contract, both of which are from North America. The deal is to be finalised on 13 November.

There have been serious concerns on all aspects of the privatisation of SAR. Some bidders have expressed concerns over whether it is feasbily possible to keep all 12 SAR bases in the UK open. The fluctuating cost of fuel is also a concern.

Under conditions of the contract, the fleet of Sea Kings used for SAR operations will have to be replaced in the next five years. This could prove to be an expensive undertaking.

1 in 6 Soldiers not Fit to Fight

2008-10-25T00:56:00.000-07:00

One in six British infantry soldiers is too sick to fight.

As many as 3,343 squaddies — or six full battalions — have been officially classed as 'unfit for task' and cannot be sent to war.

Five years’ fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan have left the ranks decimated, with commanders lacking cash to recruit enough replacements.

The shock figures expose the true depth of the Army’s spiralling manning crisis — the worst in living memory.

Added to existing retention shortfalls, it leaves top brass only three-quarters of the infantry troops they need.

The bombshell figures were obtained in parliamentary questions to ministers by Tory shadow defence secretary Dr Liam Fox.

They show just 16,063 “bayonets” are available for the frontline out of a total of 19,406. The generals’ minimum requirement is 21,771. In a stinging attack on the Government, Dr Fox last night dubbed the health of the Army “a scandal”.

He said:

“It is clear our fighting troops are overstretched and under strength.

“The crisis of recruitment and retention Labour has overseen is leaving our brave infantry weak and vulnerable.

“It is a scandal that the Government would allow six battalions’ worth of frontline troops to be unfit for duty.”

Only one of the 33 British infantry battalions — the 2nd Battalion, the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment — is currently fully manned. That means an average shortage of 100 troops for each.

Worst hit is the Black Watch — the 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, with just 348 men fit to fight.

Tory MP and ex-Army CO Patrick Mercer said: “Having so many sick and injured places a huge burden on the rest of the Army.”

A MoD spokeswoman said last night: “Unfit for purpose means personnel are unfit for their primary role — but the majority are in a position to fill a home-based role.

“Infantry recruitment is up compared to last year.”

Veteran Homeless Beside Afghan Mansion

2008-10-25T00:50:00.000-07:00

A British war hero is living in his CAR — yards from the £1.2million mansion handed to a family of Afghans.

Corporal Marcus Kilpatrick, 31, who fought in Afghanistan, was told no council housing was available for him.

He spends his nights in a sleeping bag in the back of a 12-year-old Land Rover Discovery.

Marcus — a veteran of the al-Qaeda strongholds in Helmand and Kandaha who also served in Northern Ireland — said: “I feel completely let down and unloved by my own country.”

Living in comfort nearby are the family of eight Afghan migrants in the seven-bedroom mansion as revealed by The Sun.

Their £170,000-a-year rent is paid by the taxpayer.

Unemployed Marcus, originally from Norwich, sought help a week ago from Ealing Council in West London.

He said:

“I kept getting pushed from one person to another, or got told to come back the next day or the next.

“Eventually they just gave me a list of B&Bs, but each stipulated they wouldn’t take anyone receiving benefits.

“They told me it’s up to me to find my own accommodation and then return to their offices. But no one seemed capable of explaining to me how the system works. How can they justify giving a family of Afghan migrants a mansion and then say they cannot help me? It’s not like I’m demanding a penthouse.”

Marcus served in the Army for 12 years. He spent six months in Afghanistan with the 8 Close Support Company Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

He quit the Army in March 2007 and worked as a lecturer in motor mechanics at Kings College, London. He lost that job and split from his girlfriend.

As he faced another night camped out in his motor, he said:

“It’s impossible to get a proper night’s sleep. I try to find a quiet place to park at night but that’s pretty difficult in London.

“Every time a car drives by or one beeps I get woken up. I live on pre-packed sandwiches from Tesco’s. It’s not a very nice lifestyle. I don’t even have a TV.”

A council spokesman said:

“We advised him about all the housing options open to him. He is entitled to housing benefit. Once he finds accommodation he can claim. We’ll do our best to help him.”

His Afghan neighbours face eviction after a public outcry.

Update:
A kind Sun reader yesterday came to the rescue of a war hero living in his car just yards from a £1.2million mansion handed to an Afghan family.

David Chambers offered former soldier Marcus Kilpatrick, 31, a home and a job after being moved by his plight.

Help for Heroes Christmas Cards

2008-10-22T02:54:00.000-07:00

Last year Help for Heroes Christmas Cards sold out in record time, so don't delay, buy your Help for Hero Christmas cards NOW!

Sold as a pack of 10 cards/10 envelopes, each card measures 6" x 4" and includes the message "With best wishes for Christmas and New Year" inside.

Price: £4.50 per pack of 10

Visit Help for Heroes website to place your order.

Poppy Man poster campaign launched

2008-10-22T02:26:00.001-07:00

Poppy Appeal 2008 campaign poster

The images of this years Poppy Appeal demonstrate the support that the British Legion gives to those who have served in the Armed Forces, those who are currently serving, and their dependents, as well as showing the impact that individual donations and the wearing of poppies can have.

Work featuring Poppy Man will also run on more than 100 Nationwide cash point machines for the duration of the campaign.

Customers using these cash points will see versions of the posters appear as they use the machines. As a transaction is completed, the line ‘Don’t forget your poppy’ appears on the screen. This same message appears on receipts, along with the SMS shortcode, should customers wish to make a donation.

During the campaign, a 20-foot tall Poppy Man will also appear close to the check-in desks in Heathrow’s Terminal 5 in preparation for an awareness-raising event due to take place on November 11th.

At 11am on Remembrance Day, as the annual two-minute silence takes place, digital advertising screens throughout the terminal will show poppies in a virtual ‘poppy drop’.

The campaign also includes animated digital cross-track projection posters at tube and overground stations in central London including Euston, Bond Street, Victoria and Piccadilly Circus.

The digital cross-track projected posters show the poster image of the injured veteran alone in a wheelchair in a sunny park. Gradually, individual poppies float into the image and come together to form Poppy Man, who gently rests his hands on the man’s shoulders.

The headline: “Remember 900,000 ex-service people injured in action’ appears in the ad, followed by the line ‘Don’t forget your poppy.’

Sinn Fein criticised over soldiers parade plan

2008-10-20T01:02:00.000-07:00

Sinn Fein has been criticised for organising a protest against the homecoming parade for the British soldiers who have returned to Northern Ireland from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Sinn Féin has applied to the Parades Commission for a counterparade in Belfast on Sunday, November 2nd, that, if fully granted, could lead to direct confrontation in Belfast city centre between those attending and participating in the British army parade and those involved in the republican protest.

The potential for confrontation was further heightened with republican anti-agreement group Eirigi also planning to hold a protest in Belfast on the day. The protests may further sour the political atmosphere, with the DUP accusing Sinn Féin of attempting to damage community relations.

Sinn Féin Assembly member Paul Maskey said the protest would be a peaceful and dignified parade designed to highlight opposition to the "illegal wars" in Iraq and Afghanistan. "It is also to highlight the many victims of the British army, UDR and Royal Irish Regiment here at home; victims of collusion, intimidation, shoot-to-kill, torture and State murder. That is the legacy of the RIR here in Ireland. The British army track record in Iraq and Afghanistan, much like here in Ireland, is not one of heroism - it is one of murder and oppression," he said.

North Belfast DUP Assembly member Nelson McCausland said the Sinn Féin protest was a "sinister attempt" to intimidate the people who wanted to welcome home the soldiers.

Traditional Unionist Voice MEP Jim Allister said: "All right-thinking people will be disgusted by this tricolour-trailing exercise."

Army Rescued By Economic Decline

2008-10-19T01:57:00.000-07:00

The looming recession may not all be bad news. There are signs the economic downturn is rescuing the British Army from its recruitment crisis.

The army is seeing the benefits of the economic fears

But why would anyone want to sign on as a soldier these days?

The pay's not great - adult recruits start at just £16,000 - the housing's basic and the work increasingly risky, with 298 military lives lost to date in Iraq and Afghanistan.

To find out, Sky News has been following a group of friends who decided to join the infantry together.

They're all from Mansfield, in Nottinghamshire, an area of rising unemployment that's been targeted by military recruiters.

David Spencer, at 23 is the oldest. Since leaving school at 16 he had had a series of jobs.

But work in the building industry was looking increasingly insecure. So he has swapped his plasterer's trowel for rifle.

His Dad, Colin, told me he was worried, but relieved when David joined up.

"He'd been getting into trouble - nothing serious, fights and the like - I'd get a lot of phone calls in the early hours. But there's really not much for lads to do around here. Army life's transformed him. He's grown up."

The youngest, Daniel Frow, 19, had long wanted to join the army but a bad back and then an injury to his foot held him back.

Once he'd been accepted he persuaded former school mate, Scott Chamberlain to follow him into khaki.

"I'd got a job as a vehicle mechanic," said Scott. "But I always wanted something more. The army seemed to offer a challenge."

Daniel added:

"I wasn't much good at school. All I'd had since then were warehousing jobs. As last in you were always first out when work was short. I hope the army will be a career for life for me."

A third of those who walked through the gates of the Infantry Training School at Vimy Barracks, in North Yorkshire, would not make it to the finish.

Watching them in the early days as NCOs carry out head counts, organise uncoordinated civilians into ranks and march them off to be handed confusing amounts of equipment, I had a sense of the shock it must be for some of these young men, not that long out of school.

Of the 61 who joined the new intake of the 2nd Battalion, the Mercian Regiment, in the first few weeks, ten had been lost either through injury or dismissal.

"It's often a problem of attitude," confided one of the instructors. "They've no respect for discipline."

Some 3,000 under strength, the army has long relied on Commonwealth nations to help fill the gap.

Sharing a room with the Mansfield Three is Romanu Finau, one of 2,000 Fijians who, after Ghurkhas, make up the largest non-British component of the service.

The training is relentless. We caught up with the four as they were put repeatedly through a gruelling bayonet course.

For hour after hour NCOs hounded the recruits up the slope, swearing like - well, like troopers - as they urged on the mud-caked would-be warriors.

The unresolved deaths of four young soldiers at Deepcut and more recent allegations of bullying at Catterick has made the authorities rightly sensitive about balancing care of their trainees with the need for such robust training.

I saw and heard nothing untoward, and was able to question recruits freely without the presence of officials.

Each said he had been treated well and was enjoying the experience.

After six months they were clearly shaping up as combat ready. Final qualification was battle camp across the wild moor land of Warcop, Cumbria.

It will stand them in good stead in battle. Given the requirement for troops in Helmand, by next spring they will be fighting the Taliban.

A very long way from late night punch ups in Mansfield.

'Nervous breakdown' discharges up by 30pc among UK armed forces

2008-10-19T01:38:00.000-07:00

The number of British military personnel discharged from the armed forces following a 'nervous breakdown' has risen by 30 per cent since the start of the Afghan war.

More than 1,300 have been medically discharged since 2001 when operations first began against the Taliban, new figures reveal.

Of these, 770 belong to the army, which has borne the brunt of overseas operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But the greatest increase in those leaving the military because of 'mental and behavioural disorders' belongs to the air force, with cases more than doubling from 20 in 2001 to 50 last year. By comparison, 115 left the army last year, only slightly up on the 105 discharged seven years ago.

The rising numbers of service personnel leaving for psychological reasons will fuel concerns that thousands of soldiers face being traumatised by their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Health charities claim that as many as one in 10 soldiers will develop a mental health problem from the horrors of combat.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'The MoD recognises mental illness as a serious condition, but one that can be treated. Robust systems are in place to diagnose and treat mental illness.'

War hero’s medals help raise £5000

2008-10-15T01:17:00.000-07:00

THE DISTINGUISHED Flying Cross earned by a Battle of Britain pilot trained at Montrose has been sold, along with other medals, for over £5000 at auction.

The DFC, awarded to Flight Lieutenant Basil M Bush, was part of a group of five medals auctioned with other souvenirs at Bonhams in London, which illustrated the excitement and terrors of a pilot serving during wartime.

Flight Lieutenant Bush was a member of the RAF Voluntary Reserve on Cambridge before he was called up to full time service at the outbreak of the second world war.

He completed his training at 8FTS Montrose and, after converting to Hurricanes, he joined 504 Squadron at Castletown in early July, 1940.

His log book has notes relating to a number of interceptions and on September 7 he made a forced landing after combat over the Thames estuary.

On September 30 he was shot down over the south west coast and crash landed.

The following year he was transferred to 81 Squadron near Murmansk and on his return went back to Montrose for an instructor’s course and then began training army pilots for glider towing.

He converted to Mosquitoes and joined 139 Squadron with operations to Berlin, Hanover and Mannheim as well as many other cities.

Later he was with a Spitfire flight training unit, training Lancaster bomber crews to cope with attacking fighters.

He was awarded the DFC serving with 128 Squadron in 8 (Pathfinder) Group, in Mosquitoes.

Sold with his medals were his Russian identity card, silk pass for showing to the Russians if shot down, invitations to the Battle of Britain, photographs and various souvenirs.

Pay-As-You Dine leaves hungry troops

2008-10-14T00:15:00.000-07:00

The MoD’s meal plan for Armed Forces personnel was thrown into fresh chaos over the weekend after it emerged that commanders were being forced to dock that pay of servicemen to ensure they actually had enough money to buy food.

Pay-As-You Dine (PAYD), the government’s meal plan option for personnel since 2006 allowed servicemen to only pay for the meals they ate. Previously all servicemen had a meal charge deducted from their pay at the rate of three meals per day, every day. Many servicemen were critical of the previous scheme because they did not always eat all of their meals on base.

PAYD was hailed as a method of giving personnel more choice over what they ate and when. But since the meal charge is no longer automatically deducted from the monthly pay checks, personnel have to hand over money when they eat.

This has led to budgeting chaos for many servicemen. Some personnel fail to budget for the number of meals they may or may not be eating each month and instead spend the majority of their pay on entertainment or travel.

All Sergeants and Corporals have been put on notice to report any servicemen who appear to be weak or going hungry according to defence sources. Many privates and lower ranked servicemen are alleged to be having difficulty budgeting for food they must pay for later in the month and are instead spending money on expensive take aways or alcohol.

Former under secretary of state for defence Derek Twigg was a staunch proponent of the scheme and refused attempts to refine the system so that personnel were billed like the former meal scheme, but only for the meals they ate. He also refused to create a system to help those with budgeting problems.

Earlier this year however he relented and allowed administrative officials to withhold some of the pay of some servicemen who were consistently running out of money for food every month.

An MoD spokesman placed the responsibility on servicemen, adding:"With the introduction of PAYD and choice there comes with it a certain degree of personal responsibility in terms of what they eat.

"It is up to the individual to inform the chain of command if they have money management problems leading them to need to receive meals."

Gibraltar personnel help save stricken cargo ship crew

2008-10-14T00:03:00.000-07:00

British Service personnel helped rescue over 30 crew members of a cargo ship that was being battered by Storm Force 10 winds on the rocks of Gibraltar on Friday, 10 October 2008.

The 24-year-old Liberian-registered bulk carrier MV Fedra and its 31 Croatian and Filipino crew members were blown onto the rocks around the lighthouse at Europa Point, the southerly tip of Gibraltar, in savage storm conditions.

As it lay pinned by pounding waves at the base of sheer cliffs and in darkness a major rescue attempt was launched led by Gibraltar's civilian emergency services with considerable assistance from MOD units based in the British Overseas Territory.

The MOD tug 'Capable' (used for shipping visiting Royal Navy vessels around the harbour), whose crew were recalled from leave, deployed to assist the Port Authority on Friday morning when it had already become clear that the MV Fedra, anchored on the eastern side of the Rock, was dragging her anchor and unable to hold her position.

Despite the efforts of the Port Authority and Spanish Coast Guard tugs the tow ropes were unable to hold the ship's movement and by night time the Fedra had grounded on Europa Point.

A Spanish Coast Guard helicopter winched off some crew members from the ship before a large wave broke over the cab and caused an engine flame out forcing the helicopter to land on the Europa Flats.

RAF personnel quickly secured the helicopter to the ground so that it would not be blown over and further damaged by the storm-force winds.

A second Coast Guard helicopter was deployed to the airfield but conditions were so bad at Europa that the decision was taken not to use the aircraft but, instead, to rig a breeches buoy to the ship. This was rigged by the City Fire Brigade but additional manpower was needed to man the lines.

At the nearby NAAFI Lion Bar at Europa, British Servicemen and women and their husbands and wives, enjoying the regular Friday Quiz Night, were called out to man the ropes, many of them dressed for a night out and without any waterproof protection.

British Servicemen and women manned the ropes of a cage on a crane to rescue crewmen from the stricken ship

Also at the scene was an ambulance from the Princess Royal Medical Centre (PRMC), manned by Leading Nurse Leanne Sheridan and Leading Medical Assistant Michelle Trotter, who were busy assisting with triage as the injured, cold and frightened seamen were brought ashore.

In a dramatic end to the operation, all remaining crew members were winched to safety in one hoist and were treated in hospital before being taken to a local hotel.

The MOD's command co-ordinator for Friday's activity, Lieutenant Commander Nick Chapman, paid tribute to:

"The excellent response from all the MOD staff, especially the crew of tug Capable, who had deployed to assist."

In particular he drew attention to:

"The willingness of those called out from the Lion Bar to man the breeches buoy ropes in appalling conditions. Your efforts contributed to the rescue of eight very scared Filipino crew men. Well done - I trust those involved enjoyed a more relaxing Saturday and Sunday."

British Forces are based in Gibraltar as a visible demonstration of the United Kingdom's sovereignty of the territory.

Navy to tackle Gulf pirates

2008-10-12T01:42:00.000-07:00

Another tanker hijacked as Britain takes lead role in EU mission to keep shipping lanes open for trade

Britain is to send a warship to combat piracy off the East African coast amid concerns that a spate of violent attacks on shipping could drive up oil prices.

The increasingly treacherous waters off the Horn of Africa are regularly used by Shell Oil, as well as by aid agencies shipping food. John Hutton, the new Defence Secretary, has agreed to deploy the frigate Northumberland which will provide an operational headquarters for a European Union mission to pursue and disrupt piracy in the region.

Yesterday the International Maritime Bureau reported that another tanker had been hijacked in the Gulf of Aden near Somalia.

The Greek chemical tanker, with 20 crew on board, is thought to have been taken late on Friday night.

Eleven ships and around 200 crew in total are now being held captive.

Pirates holding another tanker laden with a cargo of heavy weapons off the Somali coast have threatened to blow it up by tomorrow if their ransom demands are not met.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said there were concerns that oil tankers would begin avoiding the region and taking longer routes around Africa, driving up oil prices.

The rules of engagement for what would be a joint EU mission, with Britain appealing to other EU nations to provide warships and helicopter support, have yet to be decided.

The problem was discussed last week at a meeting of defence secretaries in Budapest and plans are expected to be finalised in the next 10 days.

Britain is offering to deploy HMS Northumberland, a Type 23 frigate, the mainstay of the modern surface fleet, and a rear admiral to command the mission for four months, with the total deployment expected to last a year.

There have been more than 50 attacks on shipping in the region in the past year, with the Somali government unable to enforce its writ either on land or at sea.

Extortion and people smuggling have replaced fishing as a coastal industry and while initially hostages were relatively well treated, violence has escalated recently with threats to behead Europeans caught at sea.

Last week the senior Royal Navy commander in the Gulf, Commodore Keith Winstanley, suggested that civilian shipping should use armed private security personnel to secure safe passage through the area. Merchant shipping has not been significantly armed since the Second World War, but Winstanley argued that security companies working in Iraq or Afghanistan could have a role to play.

Palace guards live in poor conditions

2008-10-10T01:05:00.000-07:00

Wellington barracks, the home of the guards for Buckingham Palace has come under attack for its poor living conditions.

During a debate in the House of Lords, Baroness Sharpless labelled the living accommodation an "utter disgrace."

She highlighted the lack of bathrooms- 13 for 300 troops, and the fact that the sports facility was being used to temporary house 300 additional troops.

The basement of the building often floods and the car park has become encrusted with limescale according to Baroness Sharpless.

Baroness Taylor, the minister for international defence and security, acknowledged that the barracks had poor living conditions and said that a backlog of work had contributed to the problems.

She described Wellington Barracks as "part of the legacy of difficulties on accommodation generally which have been around for many years. The MoD does want to improve the situation at the barracks, but it is not easy, partly because of the configuration of the buildings and the size of the site, and because some of the structures are Grade II listed. Improvements are in train at the moment."

Defence Estates has already invested £10m in upgrades to the quarters in 2008 according to Baroness Taylor and signifigant progress has been made in the upgrades.

The conditions of the Wellington barracks however raised general outrage from members of the Lords who argued that troops who have to perform ceremonial duties and must appear to be in pristine condition at all times deserve better living conditions.

Despite the poor conditions and the options of moving the ceremonial guards to another barracks, the Wellington barracks will most likely continue to be used to house the palace guards. Baroness Taylor reverted to the government's message that £8bn in additional funding for defence estates would help solve this problem.

"We are trying to ensure that the best use is made of the accommodation that exists so that those of our Armed Forces who are involved in ceremonial state occasions or some of the public duties are based as centrally as possible. Overall… we will end up with better accommodation across the board and with people situated in places that are most convenient for them," Baroness Taylor said to end the debate.

Covert gunners recall tough Helmand tour

2008-10-10T00:59:00.000-07:00

At the same time as Prince Harry's presence in Afghanistan earlier this year was gaining all the media attention a group of gunners were mounting the British Army's longest recorded desert patrol since the Second World War.

In the lead up to the assault on Musa Qaleh in December 2007, members of 4/73 (Sphinx) Special Observation Post Battery provided vital intelligence for the upcoming operation and even liaised with the young Prince to call in supply drops.

The specialist unit lost two men during the deployment to Afghanistan - half the casualties it has suffered in its entire history - but its troops were ready, willing and able to take the fight back to the Taliban:

"We had a tough time last year," said patrol commander Staff Sergeant Tim Godfrey, adding that teams from the Yorkshire-based battery will be exercising in Germany and Belize in the coming months. "It gives us the luxury that all of our patrol commanders will have Afghan experience."

An elite unit within the Royal Artillery, 4/73 Battery were formed in 1982 to provide commanders with crucial battlefield intelligence on enemy positions and are tasked with directing artillery fire deep into enemy-held territory.

After returning from Afghanistan in July 2008, the unit received a hero's welcome during a homecoming parade in Catterick.

Soldiers from the battery also held a memorial for their two fallen comrades.

Last survivor of battle cruiser HMS Hood in the Second World War has died at the age of 85

2008-10-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

The last survivor of the sinking of the battle cruiser HMS Hood in the Second World War has died.

Ted Briggs, 85, from Fareham in Hampshire, passed away at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth on Saturday.

The sinking of the Hood on May 24, 1941 by the German battleship Bismarck during the Battle of the Denmark Strait shocked Britain.

The Bismarck's fire hit the ship's magazine, resulting in a catastrophic explosion which tore the ship in half.

It sank in less than three minutes and only three of HMS Hood's 1,418 crew survived.

Mr Briggs, a boy signalman aged 18, was sucked under by the sinking ship before being propelled back up to the surface.

He was soon joined by the two other survivors - midshipman William Dundass, who died in 1965, and able seaman Bob Tilburn, who died in 1995.

The trio spent three hours in the freezing sea before they were picked up by a Navy ship.

Television producer Rob White, who knew Mr Briggs well, said: 'He was quite a gentleman and what really struck me was his great modesty.

'If you said, "you're a hero", he used to say, "I was not a hero, I was a survivor".'

Army bans Christmas parcels after post backlog

2008-10-04T01:28:00.000-07:00

The Army has banned the public from sending Christmas parcels to combat troops unless they are addressed to an individual soldier.

It said the British Forces Post Office system had become overloaded and would only be used to deliver mail from friends and family to service personnel in war zones.

Other people wishing to send cards or donations were urged to use recognised charities instead of simply addressing them to "a British soldier".

Last year the military postal service suffered such a backlog that many soldiers were left without mail from loved ones at Christmas.

Prince Harry, who was serving in Afghanistan, declared the system "pants" after a Christmas card from his father arrived two months late.

The Ministry of Defence said the boxes from well-wishers resulted in more work for staff and meant dangerous trips had to be made to reach the frontline in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Susan Coulthard, a spokesman, said:

"Every item of post received by the BFPO has to be checked by hand and scanned to make sure that there is nothing inside that is unsuitable to send.

"Sometimes we get people trying to send things like chocolate which of course just melts when it is sent to the Middle East. If we get thousands and thousands of boxes that we don't know where they came from or what's inside it can really clog up the system.

"It can also put individuals lives at risk if they have to make extra trips through dangerous areas to deliver the post to the front.

"Additional mail in the system can delay the delivery of personal mail from loved ones, which is of huge importance to those away from home for long periods, especially at Christmas."

Since September last year 146,000 bags of mail have been sent out to soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Vice Admiral Peter Wilkinson, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel), said:

"The generosity and support of the British public has been outstanding and it means a huge amount to all those serving in our Armed Forces.

"When on operations, the receipt of news from home, a letter from your wife or children, is a huge boost to morale, but, unfortunately, this can be delayed by the sheer volume of mail generously donated.

"Last Christmas, the mail created a significant challenge to our logistics chain in theatre, which must also focus on the supply of operational essentials such as ammunition, food and medical supplies.

"These controls mean we will continue to supply free post to the friends, family and loved ones of those serving on operations overseas, whilst ensuring our operational effectiveness is maintained."

The MoD said donations can be made via charities set up to support the servicemen and women, including UK4U Thanks!, the Royal British Legion, Poppyscotland, SSAFA, Army Benevolent Fund and Help for Heroes.

Veterans may sue MoD over computer data loss

2008-10-03T00:28:00.000-07:00

RAF veterans whose home addresses and banking details are believed to have been on two computer hard drives stolen from a "secure" military location more than two weeks ago are considering suing the Ministry of Defence for negligence under the Data Protection Act.

The hard drives were taken from a building run by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency at RAF Innsworth, near Gloucester, on September 17, but the disappearance of at least 50,000 potentially sensitive files was made public only last Friday.

The veterans have now been asked to submit photocopies of either their passports or driving licences, a recent utility or other bill showing their home address, or any letter from a bank, building society or council confirming identity and location to the RAF Data Centre at Kentigern House in Glasgow before they even discover if their records are among those missing.

One veteran said yesterday:

"These people should only be given our unique service numbers. Our military service records include details of next-of-kin, date and place of birth and current and former addresses. Or have they lost those, too?"

Several of those potentially affected said they were taking legal advice and contacting others to explore the option of a joint class action.

This Day In History:1988: 'SAS killed lawfully' - Gibraltar jury

2008-09-30T00:14:00.000-07:00

The killing of three unarmed IRA suspects by British soldiers was lawful, a Gibraltar court has found.

The jury took less than seven hours to reach the 9-2 majority verdict on the shootings in March 1988 of Sean Savage, Daniel McCann, and Mairead Farrell.

The elite SAS team shot the suspects because they believed the republican dissidents were about to detonate a remote control bomb in the tiny British territory.

The UK Government has welcomed the verdict.

But the brother of Ms Farrell called it a "travesty of justice" and appealed to the Irish prime minister to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights.

The inquest by coroner Felix Pizzarello has been the only official inquiry since the controversial killings six months ago.

After summarising the arguments of both sides, Mr Pizzarello told the jury to reach a decision on the lawfulness of the killings and instructed them to avoid an open verdict.

SAS counsel Michael Hucher called the result a "total vindication" of the soldiers' actions.

And John Laws, representing the Crown, told reporters there was no need for any further investigation.

"We've had a good, full judicial inquiry according to British law as applied in Gibraltar and that's the end of the matter," he said.

The solicitor representing the families of the three dead said he was disappointed but not surprised.

Paddy McGrory told the BBC he thought the verdict was flawed by choosing a jury from the colony which is intensely loyal to the British armed forces.

"It is something of a surprise and no comfort whatever to the British Government that not all the Gibraltar jurors could be persuaded these killings were lawful," he said.

In Context

The IRA team had gone to Gibraltar to plant a car bomb at the weekly changing of the guard ceremony.

After the inquest relatives of the victims took the case to the European Commission of Human Rights.

It supported the findings of the Gibraltar court, but referred the decision to its higher court.

In September 1995 the Strasbourg court reversed the conclusion of the original inquest and the backing of the commission.

By a narrow margin of 10 votes to nine it found Britain had used excessive force and so breached Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Scotland prepares for Joint Warrior

2008-09-26T23:51:00.000-07:00

Preparations are being made across Scotland for the biggest military exercise in Europe, Joint Warrior, which will see the UK's armed forces take part in joint collective training alongside military personnel from eight other countries.

The exercise, which will take place from 6 October 2008, is designed to sharpen the response levels of the thousands of soldiers, sailors and airmen involved.

Conscious of the fact that the exercise will take place in environmentally sensitive conservation zones, planners have spent months in direct discussions with the people most closely involved as exercise director, Royal Navy Captain Paddy McAlpine, explained:

"We are aware that we will be training in areas which contain a wide variety of marine wildlife, sea bird breeding grounds and protected fauna and flora.

"Therefore, we have spoken to landowners, farmers, fishermen, tourist agencies and environmentalists and we have built into our plans details which will limit our impact on our natural surroundings.

"However, I must stress that our armed forces are operating in a busy and dangerous world and it is our fundamental responsibility to ensure that they are trained to the highest possible standard."

In all, 29 ships and four submarines will take part, with the majority of the assets from the UK, NATO and Allied Nations operating off the north and west coasts of Scotland. Submarines will patrol the Sea of Hebrides and the Minch throughout the exercise.

Sixty aircraft will fly 100 missions a day over Scotland, England and Wales and will conform to normal UK low flying regulations between 0800 hrs and 2300 hrs, Monday to Friday.

Essential Joint Firing Exercises will take place at Cape Wrath in Scotland and Castle Martin and Sennybridge in Wales. The Welsh exercises will involve troops and fast jets using a variety of live ammunition.

The ships will fire only in Scotland; Cape Wrath is the only regulatory firing range in Northern Europe.

Environmental Impact Assessments are conducted for all potentially damaging activities.

Guide to Marshalling

2008-09-26T02:30:00.001-07:00

Royal visit for 50-year-old Gurkha regiment

2008-09-25T23:42:00.000-07:00

Soldiers of 10 The Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment (10 QOGLR) hosted a visit by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal at Catterick Garrison on Wednesday 24 September 2008, to mark the 50th anniversary of their unit.

The Aldershot-based regiment have spent three weeks in Catterick on Exercise 'Griffin Focus' in preparation for their deployment to Afghanistan on Operation HERRICK 11 in 2009.

From a series of observation stands, Her Royal Highness watched on as 10 QOGLR honed their skills in anti-ambush drills, casualty evacuation procedures and vehicle recovery and providing fighting logistic support on the Garrison training area.

The various demonstrations on the day included how a convoy reacts to an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and how it conducts casualty evacuation. The Commanding Officer of 10 QOGLR, Lieutenant Colonel Tony Duncan said:

"The visit of Her Royal Highness is part of a range of events set up to celebrate the Regiment's 50th year.

"The Regiment had its birthday in Aldershot in early July and we are delighted that Her Royal Highness had time in her schedule to visit the soldiers from the Regiment."

As part of the unit's anniversary celebrations, later this year a number of soldiers from the Regiment, together with Gurkha Association members and their families will take part in a visit to Kathmandu in Nepal to meet former members of the Regiment.

Her Majesty the Queen approved the redesignation of The Gurkha Transport Regiment as The Queen's Own Gurkha Transport Regiment in 1992.

The Regiment officially became The Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment on 5 April 2001.

Danger - Radio Relay at Work

2008-09-25T00:11:00.000-07:00

Veterans-UK” - The New Name For Services To Veterans

2008-09-25T00:08:00.000-07:00

On 2 April 2007, the Ministry of Defence created a new brand for services to veterans – Veterans-UK.

There are many organisations that provide help and support to UK veterans, both from Government and the voluntary sector.

This can at times be confusing for those seeking help as they are unsure about which organisation provides which services and from whom to seek help.

Veterans-UK will be the single brand or banner covering a variety of different veterans services provided by a range of different organisations. It will form a single point for accessing information.

The first steps will involve,a new veterans’ portal website www.veterans-uk.info replacing the previous Veterans Agency website.

This will provide a single website and e-mail address veterans.help@spva.gsi.gov.uk from which information can be obtained.

Services provided by the Veterans Services Directorate of Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) will also come under the Veterans-UK name for promotional and publicity purposes.

For the future, it is hoped the new brand will include other Ministry of Defence services to veterans and later those from other Government Departments and possibly voluntary sector organisations.

Again, the website will provide the focal point for accessing information on these services.

Increased calls for Scottish trident ban

2008-09-23T00:53:00.000-07:00

A campaign to ban nuclear weapons from Scotland is gaining steam after a senior legal figure called for a review of the legality of storing the weapons in the region.

The former Lord Advocate ,Lord Murray has asked the Calam Commission, a commission set up by the Scottish Parliament to review devolution, to review the legality of storing the weapons in Scotland. According to Lord Murray, their storage may violate international law.

Over 200 nuclear warheads are stored at Coulport and loaded onto Vanguard class submarines at Falsane.

Trade unions and politicians alike have argued that the majority of Scottish MP and MSPs do not want the warheads stored in Scotland and that devolution should address this issue. Although defence is a national issue, the location of sensitive weapons that are a prime terrorist target and could cause severe damage to the local environment as well should be a local issue according to anti-nuclear campaigners.

In the past the SNP has suggested levying a huge toll on the MoD for transporting and storing the nuclear warheads in Scotland but the idea gradually disintegrated after it became apparent that it was unenforceable.

Royal Engineers chefs are top of the pots

2008-09-23T00:48:00.000-07:00

A team of chefs from The Royal Engineers has won one of the Military's most prestigious catering contests, the 3rd (United Kingdom) Division's Improvised Field Cookery Competition.

The 22 and 26 Engineer Regiments' team, based at Perham Down, Wiltshire, produced stunning dishes that could have graced a top class restaurant using a DIY cooker formed in a hole in the ground.

The aim of the event, held in Bulford, Wiltshire, was for Military cooks to practice and enhance their field cookery skills and techniques by setting up a temporary kitchen in the open. The teams then had to produce a three-course meal for five in just two-and-a-half hours from fresh rations given to them on the day.

The winning team's menu included a starter of smoked chicken and pigeon, with a reduction of balsamic vinegar, and fig essence, with julien vegetables, a main course of either tagliatelle rabbit fricassee or rolled pork stuffed with spinach plus gnocchi, chick peas and spinach, and for desert either a fondant or fruit strudel with custard.

Rugby Legends Help Our Heroes

2008-09-21T23:35:00.000-07:00

Rugby legend Martin Johnson stepped back out as a player in the Help for Heroes fundraiser at Twickenham.

The England coach made a triumphant as the Help for Heroes XV claimed victory over the International XV.

The 2003 World Cup-winning captain was given a standing ovation from the 52,254 crowd when he appeared as a second-half replacement.

The match aimed to raise funds for injured servicemen and women.

Organisers announced that £1.1million had been raised for Headley Court rehabilitation centre in Epsom, Surrey.

Watched by Prince Charles and Lady Camilla Parker Bowles, it was a hotly-contested affair between two sides packed full of stars from the past and future, as well with current servicemen.

Lawrence Dallaglio captained the Heroes XV, who scored four tries to two to run out 29-10 winners.

He said:

“The response we have had this year has been magnificent.

“We have met a lot of the guys who been involved in war and it is pretty emotional in the dressing room at the moment.

“Today the public showed what this cause means to them. It was great day.

“Today was about the servicemen and women who defend our shores. We are very proud of what they do and we wanted to show them today.

“None of the bodies were moving as fast as they used to out on the field today but fortunately our armed forces are.”

2008-09-20T01:35:00.000-07:00

Some of the most recognisable faces in the world of rugby are coming out of retirement to take part in a charity match in aid of Britain's injured servicemen and women.

The match, which is to be played at Twickenham this afternoon, has been organised to raise £1m for Help For Heroes - a charity that provides support for soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.

World Cup winners Jason Robinson, Martin Johnson, Will Greenwood and Lawrence Dallaglio are all taking part.

They will play for the Help For Heroes XV, managed by Phil de Glanville.

They will be up against an International XV managed by Welsh legend Ieuan Evans and captained by Scott Gibbs.

When they announced their retirement, Lawrence Dallaglio and Jason Robinson both believed they had hung up their boots for good. But both players said they felt compelled to offer their support to Help For Heroes.

Robinson said of British soldiers:

"We rugby players talk about putting our bodies on the line but it's nothing compared to what these guys do.

"My wife knew that every time I went away overseas I'd be coming home. These people and their families don't know that.

"I've met some of the guys who have been out there and been injured, had legs blown off and all sorts. The stories that you hear touch your heart. So this is the least I can do."

But there has been a major blow for the international side (which includes a disproportionately large number of Welshmen) - former All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu has been forced to withdraw after picking up a heel injury during training.

The organisers, who had flown Lomu over from New Zealand, said in a statement: "Jonah, his fellow team mates and the International XV management are massively disappointed as he was desperate to play to support Help For Heroes."

All proceeds will help to improve facilities at Headley Court, the rehabilitation centre in Surrey where hundreds of service personnel are treated every year.

Over 50,000 people are expected to attend the game and tickets will be on sale at the ground prior to kick-off.

Role for Red Arrows after petition closes with half-a-million signatures.

2008-09-19T01:22:00.000-07:00

Tessa Jowell urged London 2012 to include the Red Arrows in the Olympics opening ceremony after a petition demanding they be allowed to take part closed with more than half-a-million signing it.

The petition was started on the Downing Street website after a report appeared in The Sun last September newspaper that the Department of Culture, Media and Sport had deemed the RAF acrobatic team as "unsuitable for the 2012 Olympics because they are too British".

The report was immediately denied by the Jowell, the Olympics Minister, and by the Red Arrows spokeswoman Rachel Huxford in an interview with insidethegames.

Nevertheless, the report spread on numerous websites, including several politicians, and continued to grow.

By the time it closed last night, 502,134 people had signed it despite a note from the Prime Minister's office saying "this allegation is not true".

Jowell said: “I am delighted that so many people have shown how important the Red Arrows are to them by signing this petition.

"To their millions of fans, the Red Arrows demonstrate all the best elements of being British of which we are so rightly proud.

"As we have made clear on many occasions, it is just not true that the Government has in some way banned the Red Arrows from being involved in 2012.

Red 1, Wing Commander Jas Hawker, said:

"As the Commanding Officer of the Red Arrows I was extremely proud that the Team was given the opportunity to fly over London as part of the Olympic Games Handover Ceremony.

"The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will truly be a memorable event for everybody in this country, showcasing the UK to millions of people all over the world.

"The Red Arrows represent both the excellence of the Royal Air Force and the best of British.

"It's a great honour to be involved and something that both myself and my fellow team members feel absolutely privileged to play a part in."

Support RAF heroes in 2008 Wings Appeal

2008-09-17T23:09:00.000-07:00

Over the forthcoming weeks the RAF Association (RAFA) will be looking to reach out to local communities in a nationwide fundraising drive that commemorates the bravery and often ultimate sacrifices made by members of the Royal Air Force.

RAFA provides welfare and care for those in the RAF family who require it.

To support this work, fundraising events for the RAFA Wings Appeal take place throughout the year, but always with a special emphasis on the two weeks leading up to Battle of Britain Day on September 15th.

The heroic pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain were called “The Few”, after Winston Churchill’s famous speech, when he said: “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”

In the summer of 1940 those pilots helped to ensure our nation’s freedom, as they risked their lives for their country, during the famous conflict of World War II.

That same commitment and bravery is still evident today in the servicemen and women of the RAF who risk their lives on a daily basis in theatres such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

In honour of this, the RAF Association holds its Wings Appeal each year and the PR team at RAFA Central Headquarters in Leicester, have again been working closely with branches to help promote Wings Appeal collections and events through the media.

This year is a particularly special one for the Royal Air Force as it celebrates its 90th anniversary.

RAFA Wings Appeal Director, Sharon Needham, said:

“By donating to the Wings Appeal, people will be giving something back to those members of the RAF who have served their country over the last 90 years. Their contribution will help to provide help, comradeship and support for serving and ex-serving members of the RAF and their families who are in need.”

Hardworking volunteers from RAFA Branches, together with serving RAF personnel and local young people, such as Air Cadets, members of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) and Girls Venture Corp (GVC), will look to equal or raise the £2 million given by generous members of the public in 2007.

Receiving no direct Government funding, the Wings Appeal is essential in ensuring that the RAF Association continues to provide advice, support and welfare to any serving and former members of the RAF and their dependants who are in need.

Black Sea: Russia's New Front Line

2008-09-17T01:48:00.000-07:00

Russia's navy says the operations it conducted off the coast of Georgia demonstrate to the world that it is once again a force to be reckoned with.

The Black Sea Fleet provided support for Russian troops as they launched a ground offensive deep into Georgian territory.

In the last few years, Russia's navy has become much more active, vessels regularly sail around the world exerting the Kremlin's influence.

Captain Igor Smolyak says: "We resumed long-range operations on this cruiser ship in 2000.

"We now sail to the Pacific, the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean."

Moscow has also been dramatically increasing the country's military budgets.

Huge amounts of money are sloshing around the Kremlin's coffers thanks to high oil and gas prices.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says defence spending will rise to nearly £25m in 2009 - a boost of 27% and a post Soviet record.

The increase in spending is being fuelled by confrontation and bad relations with the West.

American plans to place a missile defence shield in Eastern Europe and Nato expansion have angered Russia's rulers.

There is a firm belief in Moscow that if a resurgent Russia is to achieve its foreign policy objectives it must have the back up of a competent and strong military force.

And Russia's swift victory in Georgia and the extra money are boosting the confidence of the country's armed forces.

The Admiral of the Black Sea Fleet, Andrei Baranov, says the dark days after the collapse of the Soviet Union when the military was left to wither are now over.

"The Black Sea Fleet has been getting new equipment in recent times," says Admiral Baranov, "The missile ships have been re-equipped with new anti-air defence systems and we have new projects in the pipeline."

Defence analysts though are quick to point out that Russia's spending is still dwarfed by the military budget of the US - Washington spends an estimated 20 times more on defence than Moscow.

Prince William set to join RAF Search and Rescue

2008-09-15T23:55:00.000-07:00

The Prince, who learned to fly earlier this year with the Royal Air Force, will build on the training he has already received to become an operational Sea King pilot.

He will begin his training course with the RAF in January 2009 and, if successful on the course, would become a fully operational Search and Rescue pilot in 2010 with one of the six UK-based RAF SARF flights.

Once operational, a typical tour for a pilot in the SARF is 30 to 36 months.

Prince William first experienced the work of the Search and Rescue Force in December 2005 when he spent two weeks on work experience at RAF Valley.

He will start his training in the rank of Flying Officer, having been commissioned into the RAF in January 2008, and will transfer his service from the Army, in which he currently serves as Lieutenant in the Blues and Royals, to the RAF.

Prince William said:

"It has been a real privilege to have spent the past year understanding and experiencing all aspects of the British Armed Forces. I now want to build on the experience and training I have received to serve operationally - especially because, for good reasons, I was not able to deploy to Afghanistan this year with D Squadron of the Household Cavalry Regiment.

"The time I spent with the RAF earlier this year made me realise how much I love flying. Joining Search and Rescue is a perfect opportunity for me to serve in the Forces operationally, while contributing to a vital part of the country's Emergency Services."

In the time available between his training and operational commitments with SARF, Prince William will continue to work with the organisations and charities with which he is associated, as well as carrying out some public Royal duties.

Joke of the Day

2008-09-14T02:14:00.000-07:00

Royal Mail stamps celebrate history of RAF uniforms

2008-09-14T00:57:00.000-07:00

The Royal Mail is issuing a new set of six stamps to mark the 90th anniversary of the RAF.

The three first-class stamps and three 81p stamps, to be released on Thursday, will celebrate the history of RAF uniforms since 1918.

The stamps appear in reverse chronological order, starting in 2007 with the famous RAF blue uniform of a drum major from the RAF's Central Band on a first-class stamp, and ending with a leather-clad pilot from 1918 on an 81p stamp.

Julietta Edgar, the head of special stamps at the Royal Mail said:

"The stamps are a striking collection, which celebrates and charts the history of RAF uniforms. The uniforms combine practicality with instant recognition across the military forces, worldwide for the RAF. The issue coincides with the service's 90th anniversary and celebrates the many aspects of the RAF; from pilots to plotters and from winchman to drum major."

RAF Uniforms is the second in the Military Uniforms series that looks at the history of clothing and equipment worn by servicemen and women, and follows last year's British Army Uniforms. The series will conclude with Royal Navy Uniforms in 2009.

A new Prestige Stamp Book is also being released. The issue is intended to coincide with Battle of Britain week from September 15 to 21.

Taliban using Skype phones to dodge MI6

2008-09-14T00:42:00.000-07:00

Taliban fighters targeting British troops in Afghanistan are using the latest ‘internet phones’ to evade detection by MI6.

Skype, a popular piece of consumer software that allows free calls to be made over the web, has been adopted by insurgents to communicate with cells strung out across the country.

Unlike traditional mobile calls, which can be monitored by RAF Nimrod spy planes, Skype calls – the commercial application of a technology called Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) – are heavily encrypted.

Voice calls are broken into millions of pieces of data before being sent down the line and reassembled by the other caller’s computer.

The British and American governments are investing considerable resources to crack the codes, and in the UK the Government is introducing legislation to force internet service providers to log all web activity by subscribers, which could then be turned over to the security services on demand.

The disclosure comes as the 8,000 British troops in Afghanistan are facing attacks almost daily from an increasingly well co-ordinated Taliban.

‘The trouble with this technology is that it is easily available but devilishly hard to crack,’ the source said. ‘The technology can now be accessed on mobile internet devices and the country’s mobile phone network is expanding rapidly.’

Skype was created in 2003 and three years ago was bought by eBay for £1.4billion. It has 300million accounts and at any one time, more than 12million people are using the service.

Sir David Pepper, the head of GCHQ, the British Government’s top-secret listening post, has told MPs that internet calls are ‘seriously undermining’ his organisation’s ability to intercept communications.

MoD considers dumping Trafalgar ship

2008-09-12T23:50:00.000-07:00

Budget constraints and the high cost of maintaining a historic ship have led the MoD to consider giving away the HMS Victory to a charity or private company.

A review taken by the MoD has found that the ship costs millions of pounds per year to maintain and that due to the spending priorities elsewhere, the best option may be to give the ship away or sell it.

MoD officials maintained that the decisions made on the flagship of the Battle of Trafalgar were like decisions made for any other ship in the fleet, regardless of its history.

The ship costs over £1.5m per year to maintain. When major refurbishment work is needed, the annual costs can be twice as much.

The ship itself does not have an entrance fee. Visitors pay to enter the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard which then divides the gate totals up among all of the attractions at the yard including Lord Nelson’s famous ship.

An MoD spokesperson said that the ministry was committed to keeping the famous warship in the best possible condition, even if that meant giving it to a private group or charity.

A former commander of the Victory however was outraged by the privatisation plans. Lt Cmdr Michael Cheshire, served as the commanding officer of Victory from 1992 to 1998

He told Portsmouth Today:

'If they sell her or give her away to charity it will be an absolute tragedy.

"This magnificent ship means so much to both naval people and the whole nation – selling it to a private firm would turn it into Disneyland and would be its ruin.

"I think Portsmouth would suffer as a city.

"HMS Victory is the core of the naval base, the core of Portsmouth, and to sell off this icon would indicate the decline of the Royal Navy."

The £2bn procurement deficit at the MoD along with the need to make cuts to the budget has forced the ministry into making tough choices including the removal of historic ships from its budget.

Challengers back at Catterick Garrison

2008-09-12T23:45:00.000-07:00

The first Challenger II tanks to be seen at Catterick Garrison for five years began arriving at the camp this week as 4 Mechanized Brigade continued the huge task of moving personnel and equipment from its current base in Germany.
Challenger II convoy

In what is one of the biggest military troop movements for more than 40 years, 19 Light Brigade has been replaced at Catterick Garrison by 4th Mechanized Brigade (The Black Rats) who have returned to the United Kingdom after 27 years at Osnabruck in Germany.

Both moves are a direct result of the peace dividend being enjoyed in both Northern Ireland and Germany respectively.

And this week saw the arrival of 15 Challenger II main battle tanks – the first time in five years these battle-hardened vehicles have been seen in the Garrison – as well as Warrior Armoured Fighting Vehicles and scores of other tracked vehicles.

In all more than £330m has been spent on improving the Garrison infrastructure to manage this major move including nearly 2,000 new bed spaces for the single soldier, a new combined officers and warrant officers and sergeants mess, the new sports and leisure centre and technical accommodation.

In all the number of soldiers based in the Garrison will rise by about 600, pushing the total number over the 9,000 mark, with the Challenger main battle tank again taking up residence at the garrison after a break of several years.

Balance Now Required

2008-09-11T00:44:00.001-07:00

The Marine Hotel ***
The Promenade,
Llandudno,
Conwy,
LL30 1AN

Reunion dates: Friday 3rd Oct to Monday 6th Oct 2008

The cost of the weekend is £99 per person.

As of yesterday 66 people were due to attend.

Contact ! Wait Out !

2008-09-11T00:37:00.000-07:00

If you are a regimental signaller, Ops room controller or a member of the Royal Signals these words are the most worrying and frustrating you can hear.