 |
The
Friends of the Green Howards |
2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards), - News |
|||
| Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment (19th Foot) The North York Militia, The North York Local Militia & North York Rifle Volunteers | |||||
|
|||||
Below are the latest news stories from the 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards).
2 MAY 2008, - THE 2nd BATTALION YORKSHIRE REGIMENT (GREEN HOWARDS) RETURNS FROM AFGHANISTAN.
| To view a larger version of each image, simply select the thumbnail. To close the new window that opens, simply click anywhere inside this window. | |
 |
 |
| Colours laid out for the memorial service in Shorabak |
WO2 Scott, Capt Breach and Capt Mantell |
The first main body of 2 YORK soldiers arrived back into Manchester Airport on Friday 29 March, having spent 24 hours in Cyprus as part of the decompression package. Over the next 2 weeks, the remaining soldiers of the 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment arrived back into Weeton Barracks, including those of the BRF and the Lashkar Gah Company.
The soldiers have been able to spend some well earned time catching up with their families and friends with long weekends and 10 days leave in the middle of April.
Not surprisingly, there has been a large media interest with the return of the Battalion, both locally and nationally. 15 soldiers from the Battalion were invited down by the News of the World to watch Ricky Hatton train at his gym for his fight on May 24th, followed by a series of photographs and a question and answer session with the great boxer himself. The 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) have a fine boxing history having won the army boxing cup most recently in 2003, so it was a special moment for the soldiers to meet one of the all time great boxers.
Ricky Hatton also spoke about how he was proud to meet solders from a Battalion who had performed so magnificently over the past 6 months in such difficult and dangerous conditions. The article is to be shown in the News of the World towards the end of May as part of the build up for Ricky Hatton’s return fight in the UK.
| To view a larger version of each image, simply select the thumbnail. To close the new window that opens, simply click anywhere inside this window. | ||
 |
 |
 |
| Soldiers observe Ricky Hatton training |
Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion meet Ricky Hatton.
(Select the image below for a 1200 x 800 px sized image) |
LCpl Lanaway meets Ricky Hatton |
|
||
Many of the soldiers and officers of the Battalion were invited down to meet HRH Duke of York (Colonel in Chief of the Regiment) on Tuesday 22nd April. They spent several hours in his company in Windsor answering his questions on their time in Afghanistan. The Colonel in Chief showed a great interest in the work they had been doing in Afghanistan and listened to the stories they had to tell.
On Wednesday 23 April, soldiers of the Battalion, friends, guests and families gathered together in Kirkham for the memorial service that was held for all those who lost their lives over the past 6 months in Afghanistan. The service allowed all those present to remember the lives of LCpl Jake Alderton, Capt John McDermid, Sgt Lee Johnson, Cpl Daryl Gardiner and Cpl Damian Lawrence. Tributes were read out for all five of them, by those who had had the honour of serving alongside them. The service allowed all those present to celebrate the lives of five individuals who gave their lives doing what they cared about.
The Battalion were presented their campaign medals on Wednesday 30 April by General Andrew Farquhar CBE. Also present were Comd 52 Bde and Comd 42 Bde. The parade square was filled with families and friends, watching the soldiers of the 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) marching onto the square to receive their medals. The Deputy Colonel of the Yorkshire regiment (Green Howards) spoke after awarding the medals, about the work the soldiers had done over the past 6 months in Afghanistan. He also spoke of the hard work and courage that the families and friends had displayed during this time in supporting the soldiers. After the marching off the square and eating a good old fashioned army curry, the soldiers fell out for their well earned 4 weeks POTL.
To view videos and a slide show of the medal parade, please select the image below.
| To view a larger version of each image, simply select the thumbnail. To close the new window that opens, simply click anywhere inside this window. | ||
 |
 |
 |
| General Farquhar presenting Corporal
Lawrence's Medals
|
The New RSM of 2 Yorks |
|
Soldiers from the Battalion were invited by Middlesbrough Football Club to attend their final home game of the season against Portsmouth. Sixty soldiers walked round the pitch in front of 30,000 fans shortly before kick off. The fans showed their appreciation for all the hard work they had done in Afghanistan by clapping and cheering the soldiers.
After POTL, the Battalion will be conducting marches through the towns of Middlesbrough, Redcar, Harrogate, Richmond, Scarborough and Bridlington, as part of the welcome home freedom parades. This will be an excellent opportunity for people to show their appreciation for the soldiers of the 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) and everything they have achieved during their difficult, dangerous and demanding tour of Afghanistan. They can also look forward to an excellent adventurous training package that was put together by Capt Paylor and Maj Piercy whilst the Battalion was deployed abroad.
Whilst enjoying a relaxing few months over the summer filled with adventurous training and leave, the Battalion will be beginning to look forward to the deployment back to Afghanistan, in the OMLT role as part of HERRICK 11. This will begin in June when the Battalion ceases to be part of 52 Bde, and comes under the command of 52 Bde.
Since the last update A Coy continued to mentor 3rd and then the 2nd Kandak of 3/205 Bde in Musa Qaleh.
The weather improved dramatically by mid February and the tour ended as it started – hot. The security and stability of Musa Qaleh continues to progress well. We sometimes have to remind ourselves that despite all the demands, pressures, frustrations and challenges of getting the town back on its feet, ISAF and the ANA have only been here since mid December and a huge amount has been achieved, - nearly 400 fighting age males are in daily employment, many building and reconstruction projects have been started and funded, there is a free public medical clinic open and, perhaps most strikingly, there is now a busy school full of noisy children being educated.
The Taliban have not given up, far from it, in fact there has been a marked increase in their activity since mid-February. The DC has been attacked four times, we have seen the first attacks against the ANA/OMLT Patrol Bases and in some areas patrols now deploy expecting contact. On one particular occasion we sadly suffered two British casualties, Sjt Gash and LCpl O’Malley. Both were medevacced to Birmingham Selly Oak and, I am pleased to report, are both now doing well.
By mid February we began to see the first of our relief, 1 R IRISH. After nearly a week long hand over it was time to go and we found ourselves back in Shoroback, elated but some did admit to being strangely sorry to see the back of Musa Qaleh having put so much of ourselves into it. After a brief day in Kandahar we found ourselves in a cold hangar in Cyprus at 5am for decompression. There were a few questioning looks as it seemed like a bad day at Butlins but once we got to Camp Bloodhound, on the phone and down the beach we had a thoroughly good day, and night, before finding ourselves driving through the gate at Weeton to be met by a mass of families, reporters and TV cameras.
A Company is beginning to look like its old self again with the welcome return of the platoon that has been working in Lashkah Gar for the last six months. We have now been back in work for two weeks and have had a week’s leave with four more to come in May. Though Afghanistan remains very much in the forefront of our minds after this morning’s poignant reminder of those families that will not be enjoying leave, - we hosted the families of our comrades who were killed in action for a memorial service at St Michaels, Kirkham.
"B" COY RETURN FROM AFGHANISTAN
As the reality of returning from Afghanistan begins to sink in and the soldiers start to enjoy their time with family and friends, we have all taken a moment to remember those amongst us who did not return.
Some may say that boredom has already started to emerge and that they cannot wait for HERRICK 11 to be upon us and yet another opportunity for a fantastic spell in Afghanistan. But in the meantime, hopefully the majority of us can enjoy the warmth of being back at home and take that unusual chance to do those things that we often talk about in the Army, but seldom find the time to do.
With POTL looming, plans are fast being put together amongst the various companies for a host of Adventure Training activities. The battalion organised Ex Northern Warrior is to be complemented by expeditions to Gibraltar and elsewhere. In the case of B Company, an exciting trekking spell in the Pyrenees is on the cards. Unsurprisingly, some of the soldiers were reluctant at first to give up a treasured weekend abroad, in favour of hitting their usual haunts, but thankfully opinions are beginning to change.
Some lucky characters will find themselves on a Sky Diving course whilst others will be more satisfied with canyoning in the icy British waters. All in all, the next couple of months promise to be a suitable reward for a job well done in a land that now seems so far away.
C Company arrived back from Afghanistan, after a 36 hour interlude of water sports and a BBQ in Cyprus, on 2 April 2008 and was warmly greeted by many friends and families in Weeton Camp. Every soldier was thoroughly pleased to be back in the UK and to be with their loved ones after a demanding and rewarding tour.
C Coy enjoyed a long weekend before returning to work, whilst we waited for the remainder of the Battalion to return from Afghanistan so that we can go on our post tour leave together in May.
On Saturday 12 April 2008 the Coy met up in Whitby with Cpl Lawrence’s family to hold a memorial service, so that we could all say our final prayers and remember him. Cpl Campbell did the reading and the prayer and afterwards we all met up in his local for a buffet and drinks. The service was well received and it was a good and sociable affair and we were again able to meet Cpl Lawrence’s family when they came to the Battalion families’ memorial service held in the local church by Weeton camp.
The Coy will receive their Afghanistan medals on the 30 April 2008 from the Brigade Commander and afterwards will start their much deserved leave, returning at the beginning of June. The Coy will then begin a series of adventure training activities during June that will include Parachuting, kayaking, rock climbing and sailing.
T E Holmes, Capt 2ic C Coy
If you're not already in the 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, but are interested in a spare time career with the Army why not contact us? To do this, simply click on the link below.
