Royal Irish troops return after six months on Afghan front line
Monday, 6 October 2008
2nd Battalion RIR Lance Corporal Jeff Johnston is greeted by his wife Faith and children, Owen (9), Ben (6) and Amy (7), as he arrives back home in Belfast today. Over one hundred 2nd Battalion RIR soldiers arrived home this morning after a six month tour in Afghanistan.
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Soldiers from the Royal Irish Regiment will be swapping the dust and danger of an Afghan war zone for the warm embrace of friends and family when they return to Northern Ireland today.
Around 100 troops from the 2nd Battalion of the regiment were due to arrive in Belfast this morning following a six month tour in the war torn country.
The soldiers are all members of the territorial arm of the regiment. Their tour of duty marks the first time that a formed unit of territorial soldiers has been deployed with its regular ‘parent’ battalion to an operational theatre.
As well as training and deploying on operations alongside the regular troops, the battalion’s main job was to help train and mentor the Afghan National Army.
Their duties also included maintaining security at their base at Camp Bastion in the notoriously trouble-hit Helmand province. A number were also deployed to forward bases in the front line at Sangin.
Following their departure from Afghanistan the troops spent a number of days ‘cooling off’ in Cyprus before making their way to Oxfordshire and onwards to Northern Ireland.
They will be transported this morning to six Territorial Army centres around the province, including Newtownabbey, where they will be met by their Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Cullen.
The troops will then be given a period of leave, but will reform for a number of engagements, including a presentation of operational medals from Lord Brookeborough at Hillsborough this weekend.
Royal Irish troops will be honoured at a number of ceremonies over the next month, including a parade in Ballymena on October 31 and the granting of the Freedom of Larne in early November.
The troops will join servicemen and women from the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force for a parade through Belfast on November 2.
Around 40 soldiers from the Republic serving in the British Army are expected to take part in the parade.
The parade will be the first of its kind in Northern Ireland since World War II, when 14,000 men from the Republic were joining the ranks each year.
The soldiers will march through the city centre, before taking the salute from a senior military figure at Belfast City Hall.
The parade has attracted criticism from nationalists, and Sinn Fein called the event “an affront to nationalists and republicans the length and breadth of Ireland”.
But Westminster defence bosses hope the event will mark a turning point in relations between the British Army and Ireland.
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Unfortunately we still see Sinn Fein not letting an opportunity go by to flout their Republican/Anti British hate under the guise of an Anti war protest. Would SF be so quick to organise a protest in Dublin against the Irish Defence Forces being welcomed home following peace keeping duties in any of the UN theatres of war they served in - I think not! Soldiers, Servicemen or women don't start wars, they sign up to serve their country and carryout the duties given to them. In so doing some will die, be maimed for life or end up mentally scarred. I along with the majority of people in this part of Ireland which whether SF like it or not is still part of a United Kingdom will welcome their safe return by turning out to support them and recognise their fantastic performance and self-sacrifice under conditions ordinary people could not begin to imagine. Faugh-a-Ballagh!
Posted by Stephen Henry | 31.10.08, 11:17 GMT
Unfortunately we still see Sinn Fein not letting an opportunity go by to flout their Republican/Anti British hate under the guise of an Anti war protest. Would SF be so quick to organise a protest in Dublin against the Irish Defence Forces being welcomed home following peace keeping duties in any of the UN theatres of war they served in - I think not! Soldiers, Servicemen or women don't start wars, they sign up to serve their country and carryout the duties given to them. In so doing some will die, be maimed for life or end up mentally scarred. I along with the majority of people in this part of Ireland which whether SF like it or not is still part of a United Kingdom will welcome their safe return by turning out to support them and recognise their fantastic performance and self-sacrifice under conditions ordinary people could not begin to imagine. Faugh-a-Ballagh!
Posted by Stephen Henry | 31.10.08, 11:08 GMT
A job well done, it is your right to march through belfast don't let Sinn Fein spoil the day. Look forward to the parade like most of the people from NI.
FAB
Posted by Billy | 28.10.08, 10:43 GMT
Well done RIR you done everyone proud!! only four weeks left til my fiance returns from Iraq.
Posted by k | 26.10.08, 23:38 GMT
well done you brave men and women of the Royal Irish Regiment we are proud of you all, welcome home.
Posted by J & TC | 25.10.08, 23:10 GMT
As a former HS soldier in the Royal Irish Regiment i would like to congratulate the men and women of the 1st Battalion as well as the reserve members who have carried out their duties in Afghanistan absolutley outstandingly.The people of Northern Ireland will be out in support of you and to congratulate you during your welcoming parade in Belfast on the 2nd November and you can hold your heads up high for a job well done.
Of course there are always and will always be demonstrations by those who claim so much to despise all things British and condem war's and those involved in them,when at the same time supporting groups which have murdered innocent people left right and centre.
Do not let these people deter you of course,hold your heads up high as you march through the center of Belfast and other towns, this is your country and you are damn proud of it.
The people will be there to support you and welcome you back - Faugh a Ballagh!
Posted by 3Batt | 17.10.08, 05:03 GMT
The troops have every rıght to parade through Belfast. For many years ıllegal armıes dıd what they wanted ın Belfast!!! The people of Northern Ireland are proud of our troops. Well done!! I wıll be there to watch parade. Kate Moore Belfast.
Posted by Kate Moore | 10.10.08, 15:38 GMT
I served with the 1st Bn The Royal Ulster Rifles from 1960 to 1966.
During this 6 years service I never ever heard religion/politics mentioned, other than a bit of banter on the 12th etc. This, despite the fact that at least one third of our batallion was represented by Catholics from Ulster and the Irish Republic. This parade is ONLY an affront to Republians, who seem to believe they have the right to speak for Irish Nationalists. Westminster is right, as it is high time there was an end to the bitter nonsense preached by the Republican movement and certain sections of the Ulster protestant community. We can live together, as we did those 40 odd years ago. The decent law abiding people of Ireland are praying that this will happen on a much wider scale SOON!
Posted by William Hannah | 08.10.08, 22:10 GMT
well done all the royal irish,as a member of the 1st batt i am glad 2 cyas all return safe!!i hav been on the streets all ova northern ireland recruiting for our regiment and the support of the people of the whole of ireland has been amazing!! I cant wait to cyas all marching through our streets to the cheers you all deserve!! FAUGH-A-BALLAGH CLEAR-THE-WAY!!
Posted by GIBBO | 07.10.08, 21:49 GMT
Dont know why you put brave in inverted commas joe murray! You obviously wouldnt join up and do the job they have done! People like you sicken me - do you think its just a game out there? People have died, families have been broken! For any of them to join up in the first place and leave all the comforts behind have my vote! You however, are arrogant, smug and pretty pointless!
Well done Lads!!
Posted by T | 07.10.08, 12:25 GMT
Joe murray,
Since you are such a student of history you must realise that in counter-insurgency campaigns relentless military pressure is necessary over extended periods to create the conditions whereby odious factions such as the taliban can be forced to the table; they can then strike deals that they would never contemplate otherwise. Look at the defeat of PIRA as a classic example.
Posted by steve | 07.10.08, 11:22 GMT
It will be interesting to see how many so-called liberals and socialists show up to protest against this war-mongering march in our city. Very few, I predict. They always shy away when it comes to facing the British.
Posted by no longer fooled | 07.10.08, 09:09 GMT
It must truly gall all these 'brave' lads running back with their tails between their legs, now that their bosses have admitted they cannot defeat the brave people of Afghanistan. (I told you so years ago) All those billions spent on tanks and guns couldn’t defeat a few hundred ‘cave dwellers’. Now, perhaps, some of these lads will start reading history books instead of war manuals, if they are capable? Perhaps starting with the history of Ireland…?
Posted by Joe Murray | 07.10.08, 09:03 GMT
Bless 'em all - the long and the short and the tall; every one of them heroes and every one makes us proud.
Hughie - former Belfastman and North Irish Brigade
Posted by Hughie | 07.10.08, 05:15 GMT
A job well done CONGRATULATIONS RIR. Welcome home.
Posted by Ww | 07.10.08, 00:31 GMT
This was written as a tribute to guys like you. Very well done, you've valiantly flown the flag. Welcome home.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=27jia7hJCdc
Posted by Mick H (Ex REME) | 06.10.08, 23:24 GMT
Welcome home lads. Good to see you all made it home. FAB
Posted by elvis | 06.10.08, 22:11 GMT
Well done Rangers, You have done us all proud !
Posted by john | 06.10.08, 22:03 GMT
Good to see all T.A. got home safe. I know lots of army people still out there in Khandahar til Christmas and we'll still be thinking of them.
We'll be cheering you on come the 2nd Nov.
Posted by Chuffed | 06.10.08, 11:56 GMT