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IRAQ - Op Telic 6
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Go back to
the Main IRAQ Section by clicking here |
 Welcome
Home
the Battalion
The
Battalion returned to Lille Bks from Iraq, to find
families and media present to welcome them back
home. Families were invited into Lille
Barracks to await the arrival of their loved ones,
meeting at the cookhouse for a traditional 'full fry
up' to calm any pending 'jelly bellies', before
making their way to the main square to meet the
coaches.
Many forms of media met families on the square from
Sky News to local radio stations that were providing
live interviews throughout the show. It should
be noted that this day was the 'main body' returning
from Iraq, others had previously returned with
more to follow.
Images below have been received from the
Aldershot News and the Surrey Advertiser,
the Battalion would like to thank both of these and
credit should be directed to these parties for the
use and donation of the images.
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Welcome Home Images & Scans
Welcome Home Montages
Below
are a couple of montages produced with images of those that
recently returned from Iraq
(click on each image to enlarge)
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Scans and articles from
newspapers
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Other Media Articles
News Link:
http://www.channel4.com/news/content/news-storypage.jsp?id=1764372
Guardsmen return from Iraq
Last Modified: 24 Oct 2005
Source: ITN
 Dozens
of British soldiers from the Coldstream Guards have arrived home
after six months in Iraq.
The 1st Battalion of the regiment returned to their home in
Lille Barracks in Aldershot less than a week after one of their
soldiers was killed by a roadside bomb.
While their return home is good news for their loved ones it
isn't the end for other British troops. Next month over a
thousand soldiers from the Highlanders and Scots Dragoon Guards
will be heading to the war stricken country.
By the end of the year the overall size of British forces in
Iraq will be around 8,000.
Signs of violence in Iraq are showing no signs of slowing. 97
British soldiers have died in Iraq so far and in the last six
months alone seven soldiers have been killed in bomb blasts.
The Coldstream Guards spent much of their time working with the
Iraqi Police Service and restoring local amenities such as
rebuilding hospitals and schools.
Meanwhile, the number of US soldiers killed in Iraq is creeping
ever closer to the symbolic 2,000 mark. Attacks on US troops
remain a daily occurrence and there is no sign of them coming
home any time soon.
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News Link:
http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/eveningchronicle/features/tm_objectid=16291262&method=full&siteid=50081&headline=back-home-name_page.html
Back Home
Tears flowed as Coldstream Guardsmen were re-united with their
families after serving in Iraq. Jane Picken talks to the
returning heroes, and the families they left behind.
 Back
in the arms of their loved ones, soldiers were reunited with
their families after serving in Iraq.
The Coldstream Guards flew back to Britain yesterday after a
tough six months in the war-torn country.
Back with wife Nicola, and surrounded by their three daughters,
Sergeant David Laws, from Blakelaw, Newcastle, beams with
happiness.
The 26-year-old said: "Being away for six months is a long time
and it certainly felt like longer.
"There were a lot of hard times and low points out in Iraq, so
coming home to the family this time feels so much better."
As well as the daily challenges of Iraq, with the suicide bombs
and insurgents, the Coldstream Guards also lost two of their men
to roadside bombs.
Guardsman Anthony Wakefield, from Walker, was killed in May, and
last week 1st Sergeant Christian Hickey, 30, from Bradford, who
gave a speech at Anthony's funeral, also died.
Yesterday the family and friends of Guardsman Wakefield had
no-one to welcome back.
His brother Paul, 25, from Kingston Park, said: "If only Anthony
could've held on for another six months he would've been coming
home today.
"We try not to think about that too much because it is so
upsetting. We're still coming to terms with Anthony's death and
it's torn the family apart.
"But at the same time we're pleased the Battalion is finally
coming home and our thoughts are with the other families who
have lost loved ones."
Hugging his three daughters, Toni, 10, Courtney, seven, and
11-month-old Kacey, David said: "It's been an experience and
there was a lot of hard times out there.
"When Anthony died it affected everyone especially as it was our
first day of taking over from another battalion.
"It was really hard to keep everyone back home reassured,
especially when the work could be dangerous and there were
certainly days where I'd get back to base and be really relieved
to be alive."
David's childhood sweetheart and wife of nine years Nicola
added: "The last week has been really hard for them all.
"I've been in army life since I married David when I was 17 so I
know what to expect, but it's still hard.
"I really missed him during the first few months of having our
baby Kacey and I was sitting at home a lot worrying, which was
awful."
Clare Garthwaite, from Jarrow, wept joyfully as
husband-of-six-years Mark arrived home.
Their children, Karl, two, Marcus, five, Amy, eight, and
Hannah,11, were desperate to ask their dad about his time in
Iraq.
Full-time mum Clare, 28, said: "The kids think it's wonderful to
have him home and Amy has been really inquisitive about what
things were like in Iraq.
 "This
was my first big tour with Mark and I found it really hard,
especially with the dangerous situation out there.
"We feel really sad for the families who lost loved ones in the
battalion but at the same time I was so happy to have Mark home.
"Mark was close to Anthony, as all the others were, and he was
really low when it happened but he had to get on with service
out there."
Also back was Guardsman Matthew O'Connor, known as Des.
The 25-year-old, from Washington, had an emotional reunion with
his wife Tasha, 28, and their 18-month-old daughter Olivia.
Mrs O'Connor called the last six months "horrible" and added: "I
feel sick and I just cannot wait to get home now."
As they unloaded their equipment Commanding Officer of the 1st
Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Nick Henderson, 43, paid tribute to
the men and women of his unit for their "outstanding" work in
Basra over the last six months.
He said: "It's been a difficult time for everyone but I am
immensely proud and privileged to command this battle group.
"As I looked at Basra city yesterday before I left, I believe
there has been a change for the better. We have done an
outstanding job."
"I'm very sad we are not all back and that's devastating for
everyone here. There are families here who are having a
particularly difficult day."
 He
also admitted insurgents were becoming more capable in their
attacks but said Basra remained a peaceful place and the Iraqi
police, who the battalion had spent most of their time mentoring
and training, were working well independent of British forces.
Lt-Col Henderson, who is due to resign from the battalion, said:
"The majority of the Iraqi police are quite good. There are some
militia factions in the service but they are the minority and
the majority of the police are working hard."
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