NAVY NEWS, DECEMBER 2011
11
and respect’
Six months of progress
41,000 patrols conducted – more than 200 per day;
45 per cent reduction in insurgent attacks across 3 Cdo Bde’s entire area of operations compared with previous years;
7½ tonnes of homemade explosive were discovered; 57km (35 miles) of roads were built – there are now 350km (217 miles) of roads in the province (equivalent to driving from Plymouth to London on the A303); eight clinics were built, raising the total number to 58 – nine out of ten Helmand residents now have access to primary health care; 50 per cent of the Afghan Police in Helmand achieved basic literacy levels;
650 shuras – or meetings with elders and communities – were held, with 100 more informal shuras held at local level; 40 schools were built increasing the number to 133;
Ten bazaars opened, housing a total of 300 shops.
Regiment. In the sunshine and cloudless
sky, the CLR men and women from Chivenor, a couple of miles outside Barnstaple,
marched
proudly through the market town to the cheers and applause of their families, friends and locals who jumped at the opportunity, the words of the mayor Cllr Ian Roome, “to say welcome back”. As well as thousands of Devonians in Barnstaple to greet the regiment, the Captain General Royal Marines HRH the Duke of Edinburgh took the salute before returning with the troops to their base to preside over an offi cial medal ceremony.
in
The Duke presented many of the medals himself before making a speech, acknowledging the support network provided by the friends and families of Service personnel.
In the case of the Commando
Logistic Regiment, its duties were to maintain vehicles, run combat logistic patrols – delivering crucial supplies
to outlying bases –
provide medics to front-line bases and act as mentors to the Afghan National Security Force. “The rapturous applause as
they were led on the parade by the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines was a true testament of the jubilation felt by ever single person,” said Lt Paul Falconer, Offi cer
Commanding CLR’s Combat Forward Surgical Group Medical Squadron. “It was
plain to see from the smiles that everyone had a good time. “The Royal Marines have been at RMB Chivenor since October 1995, but never has the bond between the public and the troops been so strong.”
And in Lympstone, by far the smallest, but no-less-hearty, homecoming parade was held by some 50 musicians of the Band of HM Royal Marines Commando Training Centre.
They carried out the Band Service’s wartime role of medical
support, such
Force Medical Group. their
as ambulance drivers or working with the extensive medical team at Camp Bastion in the Joint
They also slipped back into ‘day job’ on occasions,
staging morale-raising concerts. Their return was marked by the band marching around the compact base, where staff – Royal Marines and civilians – broke off from their daily routine to applaud the musicians for their efforts. That was followed by the medal presentation parade, where guest of honour was the Band Service’s Principal Director of Music Lt Col Nick Grace, before all the 50 or so returning Royal Marines enjoyed a private reception with around 300 family members and friends.
“It’s been a diffi cult but thoroughly rewarding tour for everyone involved and all the Royal
Marines on parade have made a real contribution to a successful Operation Herrick 14. To be here with all our family members present was a real occasion,” said Capt Richard Harvey, the detachment commander. Sgt Matt Weites, who was in charge of the Ambulance Response Troop, added: “It was great, the culmination of a diffi cult period for all the families and it made us appreciate them even more.” Seven of the 12-strong team he led were drawn from the Band Service (personnel from the RN, Army and RAF completed the dozen).
ambulances and helping with casualty
Along with manning the evacuation,
the based team
was also involved in repatriation ceremonies of personnel back to the UK. The troop,
at Camp
Bastion, has been singled out ‘for acts above and beyond the call of duty’ and received the Ambulance Service Institute Military Award for 2011 at a ceremony in the House of Lords. “Operation Herrick 14 was an extremely busy and challenging tour, and it was thoroughly rewarding to do our bit to help the lads on the front line,” said 37-year-old Sgt Weites from Exeter.
“All the members of the ART can be proud of their efforts on tour, this award is very much for all involved and indeed the Joint Force Medical Group as a whole.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48