Last combat troops back from Iraq
The last infantry soldiers have returned home from Iraq at the end of Britain’s 6-year combat mission in the country.
On Saturday afternoon, the 79 men from C Company, 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (1PWRR) returned to their barracks in Paderborn, Germany where they were met by dozens of cheering families and friends.
The troops, nicknamed ‘The Armoured Tigers’, are part of the British Army’s 20th Armoured Brigade – the final combat Brigade to serve in Iraq. Last Monday morning (11 May), C Company completed the UK’s last combat mission before returning home, providing vital security for the final convoy of military equipment to cross the border from Iraq into Kuwait.
‘The Armoured Tigers’ return to their barracks in Paderborn, north Germany on Saturday afternoon after completing their final 6-month tour in Iraq.
The Germany-based infantrymen had spent the first 5 months of this operational deployment concentrating their efforts as a Military Transition Team (MiTT), training and mentoring the Iraqi Army’s 14th Division in Basra.
Officer Commanding C Company, Major Giles Francke.
On return to Paderborn, Officer Commanding C Company, Major Giles Francke, said: “I’m very proud, and very happy to have got all my troops back. It’s good now to have closure on Iraq. We’ve been very much central to it, I believe, as a Battalion and it’s good to be back having done a good job.
“We’ve been involved in many of the significant events, from the provincial elections back in January where we were directly mentoring Iraqi Security Forces. We were there for the transfer of authority last month and then for the final extraction of the Brigade – getting our equipment out and providing protection for that. Ours was the last vehicle over the border.
“From what I’ve seen, Iraq is definitely a better place. For a lot of the soldiers who saw Iraq in the early years to what they’ve seen in the last 6 months there’s a massive improvement. Basra is a very much more peaceful, pleasant place to be.”
19-year-old Private Brian Wottrich from Southampton added: “It feels great to be back, it really does. It feels like I’m part of something, that I’ve done something historic. It’s a good feeling.”
Arabian Knights – Southampton soldiers (L-R) Private Brian Wottrich, 19, Corporal Peter Attiogbe, 34, and Private Paul Mason, 18.
Private Paul Mason, 18 from Fair Oak, Southampton, continued: “There’s a sense of achievement that we’ve finally completed our task out there. From what I’ve seen of the Iraqi Army, it seems like they’re a professional unit. We’ve taught them what we can and it’s up to them now to finish what we’ve started.”
Corporal Ian Evans, 23 from Dover, with wife Amy, 23, and 2-and-a-half- year old daughter Page. Corporal Evans said: “It’s good to be back. I’m looking forward to having a nice meal with my wife and kid.” His wife Amy added: “I missed him loads. It’s been quite a difficult 6 months, but the Battalion have been brilliant looking after us. I can’t wait to spend some time together for a change.”
Easy, Tiger - Lance Corporal Robert Carnie, 32 from Aldershot, is welcomed home after returning from Iraq
Speaking in Basra before departing Iraq last week, the Brigade Commander, Brigadier Tom Beckett concluded: “We should take pride because I think we’ve had a large and lasting contribution to Basra and to southern Iraq and none of us should forget that, not the people of this Brigade and not the rest of the Army and not the rest of the Armed Services.
“Over the course of the 6 years clearly what the British Army has done, and us as 20th Armoured Brigade over three separate tours, is rid Iraq of a tyrant, begin to reform the Iraqi Security Forces and face down a violent insurgency. We’ve then come out at the end of it having brought the Iraqi Security Forces to a position where they can provide their own security, and then in support of them bring security to the people of Basra.
“It’s a huge achievement for all of us. The naysayers will say there were bad times, but in any conflict the enemy has a will and he is trying to defeat you. So we have fought through the reverses and we’re now in the gains and we should take pride in the gains.”
The Armoured Tigers are the most decorated battalion in the British Army following their three tours of Iraq, having served there previously in 2004 and 2006. Lance Corporal (then Private) Johnson Beharry of 1PWRR became the first living recipient of the Victoria Cross for his exceptional bravery after his convoy was attacked in Al Amarah in 2004. A number of other soldiers serving with the Battalion received operational awards following their second tour of Iraq in 2006, including Colour Sergeant James Harkess who was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross and 19-year-old Army medic Private Michelle Norris who became the first female recipient of a Military Cross.
The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment is the County Regiment of Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex and Kent. The Regimental headquarters are in Canterbury, but the 1st Battalion (1PWRR) is currently stationed in the north German cathedral city of Paderborn with the remainder of 20th Armoured Brigade (The Iron Fist).
PICTURES: (Credit: Corporal James Williams RLC)
For the article featured in the Sun on 1 PWRR´s homecoming on Tuesday 19th May, please click the following link:
The Sun News Article
>> Back To Top |
Search
