Sarah Probert, Birmingham Post
A homecoming parade for Midland soldiers has been scrapped because it would pose too great a security risk, it emerged today.
The Queen’s Royal Hussars, who are currently based in Basra, Iraq, had been hopeful of marching through Belfast in front of thousands of their friends and families.
But now the regiment, who predominantly recruit from the West Midlands and Northern Ireland, have been told the parade has been scrapped amid fears it could ignite further troubles in the region.
The Queen’s Royal Hussars, who are currently mentoring the Iraqi Security Forces ahead of their departure, will be some of the last British troops to leave Basra this spring.
It is their third tour of duty since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Lieutenant Justin Kennedy-Lunde, said: “We were hopeful of having a homecoming parade in Belfast after our return later this year.
“But the emails I have seen indicate that this is now highly unlikely.
“The Royal Irish regiment encountered problems and counter protests when they held a homecoming parade.
“Put that together with recent events in Northern Ireland and the idea is no longer an option.”
Nine days ago, Sapper Mark Quinsey, aged 23, from Yardley Wood, was one of two soldiers shot dead by terrorists as he picked up a pizza delivery from outside his Masereene Barracks, in Antrim.
Dressed in desert fatigues, he was murdered by Real IRA terrorists just hours before he was due to fly to Afghanistan with his regiment.
Warrant Officer 2, Mike Malin, aged 38, a father of two from Woodgate Valley, said: “You expect to be in harms way when you are on the streets of Afghanistan or Iraq but you do not expect to be a target in the supposedly peaceful region of Northern Ireland.
“Belfast looks like Birmingham in many ways, and it was always weird to be on armed patrols in a city that looked a lot like home.
“The last thing we want is a return to the bad old days.”
It is now possible that the only homecoming parade the Queens Royal Hussars will have is in Paderborn, Germany, where they were stationed before their deployment to Iraq.
But soldiers from the regiment believe it would be fitting to hold the ceremony in Birmingham.
WO 2 Malin added: “It makes a huge difference out here to have the support of folk back at home. It makes the guys realise that we are doing something worthwhile. There are lots of guys in the regiment who have Irish surnames but are actually from the West Midlands.
“We would love to have a homecoming parade in Birmingham. I think there is generally a feeling akin to the 1940s where people realised their boys were out there doing it for them.
“More and more people are recognising that we are making the ultimate sacrifice on a regular basis. The last time we had a parade in Birmingham it nearly brought a tear to my eye, and that’s coming from a rough and tough soldier.
“But it really is that significant and a really proud day for all of us.”
Showing posts with label QRH. Show all posts
Showing posts with label QRH. Show all posts
Monday, March 16, 2009
Basra: A momentous task for soldiers from Northern Ireland
By Lesley-Anne Henry in Basra
Up to 30 soldiers from Northern Ireland are among the last British troops left in Iraq.
The soldiers from the Queen's Royal Hussars are almost half way through one of their most important and historic tours to date.
The Germany-based armoured regiment, a third of which is made up of men from Northern Ireland, are among the last British troops in Iraq and it is to these men that a major responsibility falls — ensuring control of the country reaches safe and capable hands when it is transferred from coalition forces to the fledgling national army in just a few months.
For some of the troops who were part of the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and returned again in 2006, this is their third tour but for all the soldiers involved in the operation known as Telic 13, this is the most momentous.
The QRH troops, who are deployed as part of the 20th Armoured Brigade, flew into Iraq on December 1 after a 10-day acclimatisation course in Kuwait.
Since their arrival they have been scattered across three locations in the southern oil rich province of Basra — Basra air station, the main coalition base, Umm Qsa, the region's biggest port and Az Zubayr a strategically important town 20km from Basra.
Their mission includes providing protection and guarding the Iraqi navy at the port.
QRH Military Transition Teams (MiTTs) are also concentrating their efforts on training and mentoring the 14th division of the Iraqi army, offering support such as basic soldiering skills, conducting vehicle or house searches and urban or rural foot patrols.
The security situation has changed since the QRH's last visit in 2006 when they were deployed across Al Amarah Province to conduct counter-smuggling operations close to the Iran-Iraq border.
On January 1, British forces handed control of Basra airport, its main military base in the south, to Iraqi officials. Most British troops have also withdrawn from Basra city.
QRH Commanding Officer Chris Coles said: “I think some expected a moment of déjà vu as they returned to familiar haunts, but the situation is radically different — and better — this time. The Iraqi army has taken a strong and courageous lead in giving the province real security and we are very much working in support rather than taking the lead.”
Captain Tam Biswas added: “The mentoring role involves key team seniors or individuals tasked with the departments and the Iraqi in charge of that battalion for the brigade will spend the whole three or four months teaching them how to run various tasks. The Arabic culture is based on relationships and if you show that you are on their side then they will work with you.”
In 2003 former Prime Minister Tony Blair sent 45,000 British troops to help the US topple Saddam Hussein. Today there are only around 4,100 UK soldiers in Iraq.
Up to 30 soldiers from Northern Ireland are among the last British troops left in Iraq.
The soldiers from the Queen's Royal Hussars are almost half way through one of their most important and historic tours to date.
The Germany-based armoured regiment, a third of which is made up of men from Northern Ireland, are among the last British troops in Iraq and it is to these men that a major responsibility falls — ensuring control of the country reaches safe and capable hands when it is transferred from coalition forces to the fledgling national army in just a few months.
For some of the troops who were part of the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and returned again in 2006, this is their third tour but for all the soldiers involved in the operation known as Telic 13, this is the most momentous.
The QRH troops, who are deployed as part of the 20th Armoured Brigade, flew into Iraq on December 1 after a 10-day acclimatisation course in Kuwait.
Since their arrival they have been scattered across three locations in the southern oil rich province of Basra — Basra air station, the main coalition base, Umm Qsa, the region's biggest port and Az Zubayr a strategically important town 20km from Basra.
Their mission includes providing protection and guarding the Iraqi navy at the port.
QRH Military Transition Teams (MiTTs) are also concentrating their efforts on training and mentoring the 14th division of the Iraqi army, offering support such as basic soldiering skills, conducting vehicle or house searches and urban or rural foot patrols.
The security situation has changed since the QRH's last visit in 2006 when they were deployed across Al Amarah Province to conduct counter-smuggling operations close to the Iran-Iraq border.
On January 1, British forces handed control of Basra airport, its main military base in the south, to Iraqi officials. Most British troops have also withdrawn from Basra city.
QRH Commanding Officer Chris Coles said: “I think some expected a moment of déjà vu as they returned to familiar haunts, but the situation is radically different — and better — this time. The Iraqi army has taken a strong and courageous lead in giving the province real security and we are very much working in support rather than taking the lead.”
Captain Tam Biswas added: “The mentoring role involves key team seniors or individuals tasked with the departments and the Iraqi in charge of that battalion for the brigade will spend the whole three or four months teaching them how to run various tasks. The Arabic culture is based on relationships and if you show that you are on their side then they will work with you.”
In 2003 former Prime Minister Tony Blair sent 45,000 British troops to help the US topple Saddam Hussein. Today there are only around 4,100 UK soldiers in Iraq.
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