The latest
Fusiliers Association Lancashire
Items of Interest
and
News from the Tower

ANOTHER WEEK ANOTHER FUSILIER NEWS!

1. HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS LIST

Many congratulations go to the following who have received awards;

Col W N (Bill) Aldridge CBE who has been appointed as a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. This was in recognition of his leadership and example in Afghanistan where he was Chief CJ5 International Security Assistance Force and the Assistant Chief of Staff of Headquarters Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps. He is now attending The Royal College Defence Studies and his address is C/o RCDS, Seaford House, 37 Belgrave Square, London, SW1X 8NF.

Maj J W (Jim) Taylor MBE who has been appointed a Member of the same Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. This is in recognition of his specific and unique contribution to operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq over a 9 month period while serving with 2RRF. Furthermore he was instrumental in the design and delivery of a programme of improvement for command and control system for the Iraqi Security Forces in Basra.

Lt Col (Retd) E W Davidson MBE DL was also appointed as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. The award recognises Eric’s significant contribution to Charity and in particular his Citation included reference to his work for our Regimental Charities in Lancashire. He has only very recently handed over his responsibilities as Chairman of the Lancashire Area of The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Association and he remains the President of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Lancashire Association Band and Corps of Drums which incidentally is at this moment in Canada playing alongside the Pipes and Drums of the Lorne Scots.

Major B R (Brian) Young MBE of the Fusiliers Army Cadet Force has been appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. He is the Company Commander of the Warwickshire Army Cadet Force and over the last 8 years has converted a struggling detachment in an under privileged area of Coventry into a highly successful unit, doubling the attendance figures and has proved to be extremely successful in recruiting for the ethnic minority communities. (Maj Young is a former TA Quartermaster of the old 5RRF).

Finally congratulations also go to Sir Alan Beith MP on his Knighthood. Sir Alan is the MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed and has for many years been a most loyal supporter of The Fusiliers.

2. FUNERAL SERVICE FOR THE LATE COLONEL PATRICK ROBINSON

The funeral service for Colonel Patrick Robinson whose death was recorded in the last Fusilier News will take place at Perth Crematorium, Crieff Road, Perth PH1 2PE at 2pm on Friday 20 June. The family will be delighted to see anybody who can make it to the service but readers should note that they intend to have a Thanks Giving Service later in the year, perhaps in September or October, in the Midlands.

3. SENIOR OFFICERS’ POSTINGS

Col Simon Marr MBE is very shortly taking up a new appointment as the military officer, in the Afghan Cross Whitehall Unit of the Ministry of Defence. This appointment is for three years and is a new post.

Col Philip Stack MBE currently on the Defence Planning Staff at Headquarters SHAPE has been selected for a Defence Attaché post in October, for which Language Training is starting very shortly. (Incidentally both these officers will be attending the annual Cocktail Party held outside RHQ on the 26 June) – just to remind any late applicants).

4. 2ND FUSILIERS ON PUBLIC DUTIES

Yesterday, Monday 16 June 2nd Fusiliers were on parade outside Buckingham Palace mounting Her Majesty’s Guard for the first time. The parade was commanded by the Commanding Officer himself and the Queen’s Colour was carried by Maj Jon Swift. Also on parade was Maj Jeremy Lamb MC and the Battalion Adjutant. As the Regimental Secretary writes this Fusiliers News he can see behind him the Fusilier sentry on guard outside the Jewel House at the Tower of London. Attached is a photograph taken of the parade and by linking onto the following website you can see a summary as it appeared on the Army Website;

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/HistoryAndHonour/FusiliersInDebutPalaceParade.htm

5. FUSILIERS GOLFING TRIUMPH – AGAIN !

The Regimental Team consisting of Col Jo Gunnell, Lt Col John Hunt, Capt David Williams and Maj Roger Antolik carried the day on 12 June 2008 at Royal St George’s, Sandwich to win the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Bowl by beating both the Royal Irish Regiment and, in the final, the Royal Scots. This is the infantry and cavalry inter regimental trophy, which the Fusiliers have now won for seven years, since 2002.

WJW

Death of Col P J C Robinson OBE TD DL

I am very sad to report the death last night of Colonel Patrick Robinson who
commanded the 5th (Warwickshire) Battalion of the Regiment in 1981 - 83
and
was Deputy Colonel Warwickshire 1986 - 91. As a Deputy Lieutenant he was
widely respected in the County of Warwickshire.

He had been seriously ill with cancer for several months but had recently
been encouraged by his recovery and although unable to attend the Officers'

Regimental Dinner on St George's Day he was expecting to be able to do such
things later this year.

He and his wife Charlotte had gone to their holiday home in Scotland a few
days ago, he felt poorly and died suddenly of a brain haemorrhage last
night
in the village in Scotland where they have many local friends.

His son Major Jeremy Robinson is a Company Commander with 1RRF serving in
Basra; his brother Colonel Nigel Robinson, also a former Commanding
Officer

and Deputy Colonel, lives in Berkshire.

Details of any funeral or memorial service will be circulated as they are
known.

The most sincere sympathy from very many members of the Regimental Family
are extended to Charlotte and to Jeremy.

Click on the page to see it enlarged
sorry about the colours on page 2

CHIEF OF THE GENERAL STAFF’S LETTER TO THE ARMY ON THE SITUATION
IN IRAQ

The Chief of the General Staff (CGS), General Sir Richard Dannatt, visited Iraq last week and wants to ensure that All Ranks are aware of the current situation in theatre.

CGS’ unclassified letter follows below and is self-explanatory, outlining the conclusions of his visit to Iraq last week but set in the context of the Campaign as a whole over the last 5 years so that no one should be in any doubt as to the current situation. Although addressed to CinC Land Forces it is for general release.

25th Apr 08

CinC Land Forces

IRAQ

1. I have just come back from one of my regular visits to Iraq and given the recent developments, I thought that it was important to give you my views about the situation and I would ask you to pass on this perspective to the chain of command and our families so that everyone is clear as to what is going on.

2. The first point to make is that as far back as 2003, the Campaign Plan envisaged a progressive handing over of responsibility to the Iraqis, both in governance and security. This is what we have achieved in Dhi Qar, Al Muthanna and Maysan and was what occurred last year in Basra when we handed over the last remaining base in the city, and then, in December 2007, the Province itself, to Iraqi control. Having set the conditions in Basra, the concept of moving into an overwatch posture at the Contingency Operating Base at Basra Airport was the next logical step and has allowed the Iraqi Security Forces to assume responsibility for the security of the Province. We always assumed that ‘overwatch’ involved the possibility of having to re-intervene in security matters if deemed appropriate by both the Iraqis and the Multinational Force that our troops come under. The idea that ‘overwatch’ simply involved our soldiers merely sitting around waiting to be called was always inaccurate, since the strategy has always been dependent on capacity building of the Iraqi Security Forces both in numbers and capabilities – and that has kept us pretty busy.

3. When I visited Iraq last week, I met soldiers of every rank who were positive about their role and committed to the task. I cannot deny that there are many who said that they would rather be at the forefront of the operations (as CGS, I think that I would be worried if I headed an Army that did not express such views) but those same individuals were all mature enough to understand it is right that the Iraqis that are now taking the lead. Indeed, these are exactly the nature of operations that we have been pressing for for some months – an Iraqi solution to an Iraqi problem. The Iraqis have called their surge into Basra ‘Operation Charge of the Knights’ and the Iraqi Prime Minister took the decision to take personal charge of it. To us in the military, that is a clear sign as to where the Iraq Main Effort has shifted and as a consequence, where the support of the Multinational Force must follow. The deployment of additional Multinational Corps headquarters staff (mostly from the US) to Multinational Division (South East) Basra is therefore an entirely logical military move which we can understand and support.

4. Following the principles of overwatch, we have provided support to the Iraqis where it is appropriate and within our rules of engagement. The capabilities that the Iraqis have requested from us and which we have provided include intelligence, aerial surveillance (manned and unmanned), force protection (including CHALLENGER 2 and WARRIOR), support helicopters, logistic and medical support. In addition, we have continued to mentor the Iraqi Security Forces and that is where most of our effort is now directed, principally with the Iraqi 14th Division. However, the Iraqis have supported their main effort by moving additional formations into the Basra area and these have come from areas in Iraq where they have been mentored by US troops. Just as it makes sense for UK advisors to accompany the Iraqi troops that we mentor, it makes equal sense that US advisors should operate alongside the Iraqi units they have been working with as they are brought in from other parts of the country for ‘Operation Charge of the Knights’.

5. Some commentators have been critical of the way that the Iraqi operation has been carried out. Having visited Iraq and talked to many of those involved, I have concluded that this is unreasonable and ignores the complexity of dealing with determined adversaries in challenging counter-insurgency operations. Just as Multinational Forces have challenges in operating in a foreign country, the Iraqi Security Forces face different challenges in operating in their own country. It is also worth bearing in mind that a year or so ago, 14 Division did not exist. Nor was it at full operating capability when operations in Basra started. Therefore to expect it to perform to a standard that has taken other nations (including our own) decades to reach is patently unrealistic. No one would deny that aspects of the Iraqi operation could have gone better at the outset. But there is no doubt that each phase (the Iraqis are now on the fourth phase ) has gone from strength to strength and is now showing some significant results – the Iraqi plan is working and is delivering what we sought. Indeed Basrawis are now being reported as “optimistic” about the future for the first time in many years.

6. My conclusion from my visit is that the campaign remains on its broad track but as everyone in the Army who has either served in Iraq or been involved in supporting the operation knows, it has, and will continue, to take time. We have quite properly reduced our force numbers over the last couple of years, but there will still be many more challenges to overcome and at no stage will it be easy. When faced with these situations, we must steel ourselves to see it through; this is what we have done for the past 5 years and we will continue to do so as long as a Land Forces contingent is required in Southern Iraq. I returned from my visit buoyed by the courage, sense of purpose and determination of our soldiers. I would like everyone to know this, lest anyone think that somehow this is not the case and our families can continue to take great pride in how their loved ones are carrying out their duty as professional soldiers serving their country.

CGS

2. BFBS TV CLIPS

It is well worth watching these clips with interviews with several RRF personalities. They show 1RRF training in Bavaria using US Army training facilities and 2RRF celbrating St George’s Day.

http://www.ssvc.co.uk/bfbs/tv/reports/index.htm

Then click on Watch BFBS Reports and open the one relating to Pre-Iraq Deployment Training to see and hear what 1RRF have been up to using the US Army’s training facilities in Bavaria. CO 1RRF and others from the Battalion give interviews.

After that click on BFBS Reports Archives to see 2RRF celebrating St George’s Day in the rain in their barracks in Hounslow.

WJW