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01/05/2009
NI Soldiers In Iraq Withdrawal
NI troops are to figure in the Army's high profile pull-out from Iraq this week.
Soldiers from the 1st battalion the Royal Irish Regiment (pictured here on parade in Belfast) formed part of 16 Air Assault Brigade during the initial invasion of 2003. They were among British troops pulling out of Iraq are the Queen's Royal Hussars (QRH) - a third of which are from Northern Ireland.
The tank regiment was based at three locations across the south of the country and had the task of preparing the Iraqi Army to take responsibility for its own people.
QRH units, part of 20th Armoured Brigade, were in the main military base at Basra air station, Thar Allah, an outpost in Basra city centre and at Umm Qsar, the country's biggest and most important port.
Since the start of the conflict six years ago soldiers from Northern Ireland have been at the forefront of the action.
Members of the Irish Guards were also involved in the invasion in 2003.
The battalion was split up with companies, platoons and sections attached to 7th Armoured Brigade nick-named The Desert Rats.
In 2005, the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards was the first unit to be officially awarded battle honours for service in Iraq.
In Op Telic 9 in 2006, soldiers from the 38 Engineer Regiment, based at Massereene Barracks in Antrim, were responsible for demolishing Basra's corrupt Special Crimes Unit.
The operation, carried out on Christmas morning, was thought to have been a major turning point in the campaign to win over Basra as the 'rogue police station' had become a symbol of oppression and corruption for the city.
Other Northern Ireland-based regiments to have served on operations in Iraq include 40 Regiment Royal Artillery, based at Thiepval Barracks in Lisburn and soldiers from the recently formed 2nd and 3rd Battalion The Mercians.
Many of the Ulster Territorial Army units have sent personnel to the Gulf.
However, the welcome pull-out, is tinged with great sadness as the human cost of the bloody campaign is counted.
Part of the official withdrawal service in Basra this week included the names of all 179 British servicemen killed in the conflict being read out.
Included in these was Squadron Leader Marshall, 39, who was a passenger on a doomed flight which claimed his life on January 30, 2005, the day of the first democratic elections in Iraq.
Patrick Marshall was killed along with nine others when a special forces RAF Hercules transport plane crashed 20 miles north-west of Baghdad in what was Britain's single biggest loss of life during the conflict.
Speaking to the Belfast News Letter, the dead officer's dad, east Belfast retired RAF wing commander Shaun Marshall said that, despite his loss and that of other families, he believed the decision to remove Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein had been right.
See: UK Troops Honoured As Combat Operations End In Iraq
(BMcC/JM)
Soldiers from the 1st battalion the Royal Irish Regiment (pictured here on parade in Belfast) formed part of 16 Air Assault Brigade during the initial invasion of 2003. They were among British troops pulling out of Iraq are the Queen's Royal Hussars (QRH) - a third of which are from Northern Ireland.
The tank regiment was based at three locations across the south of the country and had the task of preparing the Iraqi Army to take responsibility for its own people.
QRH units, part of 20th Armoured Brigade, were in the main military base at Basra air station, Thar Allah, an outpost in Basra city centre and at Umm Qsar, the country's biggest and most important port.
Since the start of the conflict six years ago soldiers from Northern Ireland have been at the forefront of the action.
Members of the Irish Guards were also involved in the invasion in 2003.
The battalion was split up with companies, platoons and sections attached to 7th Armoured Brigade nick-named The Desert Rats.
In 2005, the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards was the first unit to be officially awarded battle honours for service in Iraq.
In Op Telic 9 in 2006, soldiers from the 38 Engineer Regiment, based at Massereene Barracks in Antrim, were responsible for demolishing Basra's corrupt Special Crimes Unit.
The operation, carried out on Christmas morning, was thought to have been a major turning point in the campaign to win over Basra as the 'rogue police station' had become a symbol of oppression and corruption for the city.
Other Northern Ireland-based regiments to have served on operations in Iraq include 40 Regiment Royal Artillery, based at Thiepval Barracks in Lisburn and soldiers from the recently formed 2nd and 3rd Battalion The Mercians.
Many of the Ulster Territorial Army units have sent personnel to the Gulf.
However, the welcome pull-out, is tinged with great sadness as the human cost of the bloody campaign is counted.
Part of the official withdrawal service in Basra this week included the names of all 179 British servicemen killed in the conflict being read out.
Included in these was Squadron Leader Marshall, 39, who was a passenger on a doomed flight which claimed his life on January 30, 2005, the day of the first democratic elections in Iraq.
Patrick Marshall was killed along with nine others when a special forces RAF Hercules transport plane crashed 20 miles north-west of Baghdad in what was Britain's single biggest loss of life during the conflict.
Speaking to the Belfast News Letter, the dead officer's dad, east Belfast retired RAF wing commander Shaun Marshall said that, despite his loss and that of other families, he believed the decision to remove Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein had been right.
See: UK Troops Honoured As Combat Operations End In Iraq
(BMcC/JM)
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02 August 2007
Funeral For LCpl Darren Flowers
The funeral of Lance Corporal Darren Flowers who was killed in Iraq almost two weeks ago will take place today. LCpl Flowers, 25, will be buried with full military honours in Portstewart. Originally from the Waterside area in Londonderry, LCpl Flowers will be buried in Portstewart where he lived with his grandparents.
Funeral For LCpl Darren Flowers
The funeral of Lance Corporal Darren Flowers who was killed in Iraq almost two weeks ago will take place today. LCpl Flowers, 25, will be buried with full military honours in Portstewart. Originally from the Waterside area in Londonderry, LCpl Flowers will be buried in Portstewart where he lived with his grandparents.
24 July 2007
Tributes paid to NI soldier
Tributes have been paid to Lance Corporal Timothy “Daz” Flowers, a Londonderry soldier killed in Basra, southern Iraq. The 25-year-old died on Saturday from injuries suffered during an attack on Basra Palace, the last remaining British base in the city centre.
Tributes paid to NI soldier
Tributes have been paid to Lance Corporal Timothy “Daz” Flowers, a Londonderry soldier killed in Basra, southern Iraq. The 25-year-old died on Saturday from injuries suffered during an attack on Basra Palace, the last remaining British base in the city centre.
20 March 2003
Trocaire warn of 'humanitarian disaster' in Iraq
Charity Trócaire have today announced funding for a programme which is designed to safeguard vital escape routes for refugees fleeing war in Iraq.
Trocaire warn of 'humanitarian disaster' in Iraq
Charity Trócaire have today announced funding for a programme which is designed to safeguard vital escape routes for refugees fleeing war in Iraq.
06 April 2004
McNarry slams end of free 'services' parcel post to Iraq
Strangford Ulster Unionist MLA David McNarry has described the Post Office’s decision to end its free parcel post service to soldiers serving in Iraq as "obscene". Mr McNarry, a former advisor to UUP leader David Trimble, has revealed that from Wednesday the Post Office will charge for parcels being sent to soldiers on active duty in Iraq.
McNarry slams end of free 'services' parcel post to Iraq
Strangford Ulster Unionist MLA David McNarry has described the Post Office’s decision to end its free parcel post service to soldiers serving in Iraq as "obscene". Mr McNarry, a former advisor to UUP leader David Trimble, has revealed that from Wednesday the Post Office will charge for parcels being sent to soldiers on active duty in Iraq.
21 March 2003
Public has a 'duty' to support troops says Trimble
Ulster Unionist Leader David Trimble has said the pubic has "a duty" to support troops in Iraq. Speaking at a news conference at Cunningham House in Belfast this morning, Mr Trimble said: "Hostilities have now commenced, thousands of servicemen and women are going into action, and that changes the situation enormously.
Public has a 'duty' to support troops says Trimble
Ulster Unionist Leader David Trimble has said the pubic has "a duty" to support troops in Iraq. Speaking at a news conference at Cunningham House in Belfast this morning, Mr Trimble said: "Hostilities have now commenced, thousands of servicemen and women are going into action, and that changes the situation enormously.
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