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Welcome to the
OP Telic 6 (IRAQ) Section
Battalion Articles
The following information has recently been
submitted for the next edition of the Guards
Magazine
Battalion Intelligence
(as at 25th Aug 05)
Colonel: Gen Sir Michael Rose
Regimental Lieutenant Colonel: Col J J S Bourne-May
Regimental Adjutant: Maj E M Crofton formerly Coldm
Gds
Director of Music: Maj G O Jones
1st Battalion
Commanding Officer: Lt Col N B Henderson
Adjutant: Capt C M J d’Apice
Regimental Sergeant Major: WO1 Carr
Station: Shaat Al Arab Hotel, Basrah City
The last few months have been hectic to say the
least and the Battalion is now well and truly
settled in to life in Iraq. The pace of life out
here, at least amongst the Coalition Troops,
continues to be fast and all ranks grow in
experience daily. The heat has been a major factor
with the temperature routinely over 50º Celsius by
day; despite this our patrols still go out at all
hours, thus re-proving the old refrain about mad
dogs and Englishmen.
Within Basra City the main emphasis is still on
Security Sector Reform
 and our soldiers of all ranks
and cap badges do a sterling job of working with the
Iraqi police, who are not always the easiest group
of people to get on with. Beyond that the routine of
guard duties and patrols would be familiar to
anybody who has served in Northern Ireland or,
indeed, elsewhere. Although the routine is familiar
the situation is ever changing and this conspires to
keep us all on our toes. Being the Basra City Battlegroup means we are constantly being visited by
all sorts of groups and individuals. Although at
times this does get a little wearisome it at least
lets us know that we are not forgotten. Amongst
these visitors have been numerous representatives of
the Iraqi, British and International media and the
stories they have produced have been overwhelmingly
positive.
However it should not be thought that life out here
is without its amusements. Aside from the extremely
good welfare facilities and R & R package on offer
some of our Guardsmen have been able to take a short
Operational Stand Down in Kuwait, which has allowed
them to witness at close hand the amazing facilities
the US Army provides for its soldiers. We have also
had a CSE Visit which was led by the former England
Footballer Neil Ruddock and the
glamour models Jo Guest and Leah Newman; it is fair
to say that, of our guests, Mr Ruddock did
not receive the lion’s share of attention. The visit
went
extremely well
and a fun day was had by all with the Belly Sliding
Competition being particularly hotly contested,
although No 3 Coy’s Talent Competition was also a
close run thing.
Battalion Headquarters are still accommodated in the
Shaat Al Arab Hotel along with No 2 Coy, A Coy 1
STAFFORDS and other sub-units. Although conditions
still fall short of what one might expect from such
a grandly named establishment tireless work on the
part of the Pioneer Platoon has resulted in the
Hotel being without doubt the smartest British base
in Southern Iraq. No 3 Coy occupy the Old State
Buildings in the heart of the City where, although
conditions are basic, morale remains high. Much of
this is due to the Company’s Chefs, who manage to
produce an excellent and varied daily menu despite
working in a poorly equipped and extremely hot
kitchen. Meanwhile No 1 Coy continue to serve in Al
Amarah as part of 1 STAFFORDS Battlegroup. The
situation there is volatile to say the least and
sadly the Battlegroup has lost a further four lives
to enemy action. The threat now is sufficiently
severe that all ground moves have to be made in
Warrior Armoured Fighting Vehicles. This has
resulted in No 1 Coy having to cease
 operating as a
sub-unit in order to reinforce the two STAFFORDS
Armoured Infantry Companies; the experience of
soldiering in such an environment is conveyed
vividly elsewhere in this edition. Mention must also
be made of the Rear Party under
Maj R H McCormack
who do a wonderful job of supporting the Battalion’s
deployment in Iraq.
Maj W J Tower leaves us to take up the post of Chief
Instructor at the Mortar Division at Warminster and
we welcome his successor as Second in Command, Maj T
W Gray. Additionally congratulations are due to Maj
J Na Nakhorn on his recent promotion; he departs to
attend the Intermediate Command and Staff Course
having handed over as Adjutant to Capt C M J d’Apice.
Capt N R Jones has stepped off to assume the
appointment of Adjutant at Pirbright and has been
succeeded as Operations Officer by Capt J D Brinn,
who we welcome back from Brecon. Lt J R E Raley and
Lt O J Biggs depart for Catterick from where we
welcome Capt R N M Rendall as well as Lt T E
Williams, who joins us from No 7 Coy. We also
welcome Lt C E V Williams and Lt J Roberts who,
along with 19 other volunteers from 1st Battalion
Irish Guards, have come out to reinforce us till the
end of our tour. Finally we warmly welcome into the
Regiment 2 Lt F O B Wells, 2 Lt T P Y Radcliffe and
2 Lt J R T Law, all of whom have recently
commissioned from Sandhurst.
SERGEANTS’ MESS
As I sit here in the Shaat al Arab Hotel longing for
just one spot of rain I can only visualise reading
this article in the Autumn edition probably wishing
for one ray of sun! The forecast of events has now
been completed for the remainder of 2005 and the
beginning of 2006. Drill seems to be the theme of
events to come, a far cry from the relentless pace
of patrolling the troops are conducting here at
present. Although not wanting to wish our lives away
I think a change will be welcome. Regarding Mess
life, the joint Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess now
possesses a nightly Film Club with only two rules –
Rule One: don’t discuss the Film Club and Rule Two:
argue as to who chooses the film. Naturally watching
this second rule being obeyed has now become more of
an entertainment than actually watching the film!
The decision was made to celebrate the Trooping of
the Colour this year with a carefully planned series
of events. Firstly we gathered round the television
to support the Lions Team in New Zealand before,
after a light lunch, proceeding to watch the Irish
Guards perform on Horse Guards. Supper in the Mess
was followed by a drill-orientated military quiz
(narrowly won by No 2 Coy) and the day finished with
a showing of the film ‘Waterloo’.
WO2 Rutt AGC has assumed the post of RAOWO, WO2
Donaghy has been posted to ITC Catterick as Drill
Sergeant and WO2 P Baker is about to step off to
become the RQMS at RHQ to be replaced as TQMS within
the Battalion by WO2 N Hicks. We congratulate WO2 J
Flynn, WO2 D Roffey and WO2 F Hughes on their recent
promotions and look forward to the first pint back
in Lille Barracks with them.
The Mess seniors therefore are: WOI (RSM) P Carr,
WOs 2 M Etherington, P Baker,
G Stevenson, A Hunter, A Johnson, P Thomas MBE, A
Rutt, K Smith, A Maskelyne, D Claydon, A Stokes, J
Sheard, S Jones, B Dart, N Hicks, J Cooper, J Flynn,
D Roffey and F Hughes.
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