See the photos of the reunions - by clicking the "Photo-Gallery" link
To hear interviews - click on the "Audio" link
***********
The Staffordshire Regiment return home to an important duty - a full and formal military parade in Tamworth on Friday November 4th, to remember their fallen comrades, followed by a service at the regiment's spiritual home, the Whittington Barracks in Lichfield.
The battalion returned to the UK on October 25th (2005) after their six-month tour of Iraq - which saw three of their company, and another two soldiers affiliated to the regiment at the time, killed in action.
The Regiment also received national publicity in September when soldiers were pictured leaping from their burning Warrior troop carriers in the city of Basra.
After facing attack every 36 hours from bombs and mortars - including 44 rocket attacks - the regiment says it was the most difficult tour any part of the British Army has had this year.
So coming home was a relief and a joy.
The 1st Battalion of the Staffordshire Regiment arrived back at Mooltan Barracks, the regimental barracks, in Tidworth, Wiltshire, for a tearful reunion with their families and loved ones. Reunion Around eight hundred soldiers flew back to Britain, and then were transported in buses to the barracks for the reunions.
It was just after five o'clock when they were reunited with their families, the same families who had had to watch TV pictures like the soldiers leaping out of the tank on fire.
Matthew Sproston from Weston Coyney says after his three colleagues were killed in one roadside bomb, he feared each day could be his last.
And the Regimental Secretary Jim Massey said it's been a really tough deployment.... especially remembering that three of their immediate colleagues were not to return at all. Tank crew The commanding officer of the Regiment praised the bravery of the Lichfield soldier who was pictured escaping as his Warrior armoured vehicle engulfed in flames.
Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Williams spoke of his pride and admiration for Sergeant George Long, of Stychbrook Gardens, who made world headlines as he was filmed leaping from the tank after a petrol bomb attack in Basra.
Speaking moments after returning to the Tidworth camp, Lt Col Williams said: "I would like to commend the tank crew's bravery and their tremendous courage. They are at home in Staffordshire now and deserve to be so too."
Sgt Long's girlfriend, Marie Sumner, also of Stychbrook Gardens, said: "The way he sees it is that it is all over now and he doesn't feel like a hero, just that he was doing his job." Cpl Ben Whittington, from Coseley, told of when he turned 21 in Iraq in September and was even thrown a surprise party.
Private Nick Haywood from Rugeley was emotional as he was reunited with his fiance Victoria James, from Rickerscote in Stafford, and his 12-week-old daughter Elise. Deployment in Iraq In the Middle East, the soldiers were training and working with the Iraqi army, police and the border enforcement department, so that security forces can acquire the skills
to police their own country.
Part of their role was also to arrest terrorists in the southern region of Maysaan to reduce attacks on military and civilians.
The battalion was also involved in reconstructing services such as water, electricity, sanitation and infrastructure, and encouraging economic development.
A company of soldiers from the Staffordshires was serving with the Coldstream Guards when a riot broke out after two soldiers were rescued in Basra on September 19th. Second Lieutenant Richard Shearer, privates Leon Spicer and Phillip Hewitt, were all killed when their armoured Land Rover was blown up by a roadside bomb in Al Amarah, on July 16th.
Two other soldiers who were attached to the regiment from other units were also killed by roadside bombs during the Staffords' tour of duty.
Coldstream Guardsman Anthony Wakefield was killed on May 2 and Lance Corporal Alan Brackenbury, of the King Royal Hussars, was killed on May 29. Future There are no plans for the regiment to return to Iraq, but other soldiers from the county will be going out there shortly - as members of the West Midlands Regiment (Volunteers).
The West Mids Regiment is the TA division formed in 1999 which incorporated the old Staffords Third Battalion.
|
