UK Landing Force Command Support group
by Lt Col WE Dechow, CO

Op Telic saw another milestone achieved in the transition of UKLF CSG from its HQ & Sig Sqn origins to its C4ISTAR future. During Op Telic UKLFCSG force elements were involved in both close, deep and rear operations simultaneously; close - with the BRF Opcon to 42 Cdo then 40 Cdo flip; rear - with Major G Armour’s Z Coy 45 Cdo providing force protection of the Bde HQ/FARP and security/stabilisation patrolling in its own AO; deep - with the HQ exercising the C2 of the ISTAR Gp: Phoenix, SK7, P3-AlP, FHT, BRF and C Sqn OPO. Comms Sqn, aside from its normal strategic and tactical links, provided the CIS architecture that knitted close, deep and rear force elements into the Brigade HQ; Log Sqn sustained all force elements and the Brigade HQ - a maximum of 850 personnel at its peak.

Brigade Recce Force
by Sgt Gaz’ Veacock BPT

‘No matter what happens we will deploy to Norway after leave’ (Ops Officer UKIF CSG prior to Christmas leave!) After returning from a well-deserved Christmas leave, the BRE were informed that they would be deploying on Op Telic. The organisation was broken down into a Naval Task Group (NTG) party (including elements of BPT, 148 Bty and TACP) and the remainder. The NTG party deployed to Cyprus to conduct low-level training prior to joining 40 Cdo RM in HMS Ocean. When we were eventually embarked in HMS Ocean with the remainder of the Task Group heading for the Persian Gulf, we found ourselves within Command Company as attached ranks to Recce Troop. For the next seven weeks we prepared ourselves for the eventual assault on the Al Faw Peninsula (AFP). Overall, this was an exceptional period with a well-structured programme followed by countless rehearsals before we disembarked onto Kuwaiti soil for some final battle preparations.

Meanwhile, back in Plymouth, the main body moved out to Kuwait and took up residence in the newly constructed Camp Coyote. This large patch of dust provided an excellent haven to carry out the necessary training to prepare everyone for the forthcoming operation. Time was spent on the ranges, practicing mobility SOPs, AFV recognition and NBC, to mention a few. In particular, the weapon training conducted by Sgt Joe Gillespie. the resident PWI within SPT, will be remembered by all those who participated as it wasn’t quite a wet weather stance at CTC’. It was during this stage that the camp was subjected to constant alarms (mostly false) that ranged from suspected suicide bombers to scud dens. Even someone shouting ‘Gaz’ was misinterpreted, as ‘Gas’ that would eventually have everyone fully gas-masked up! Needless to say it did enhance individual NBC drills especially Mne Luke Coleman, who unfortunately had his respirator proffed prior to an NBC warning - Good effort on becoming the BRF’s human budgie!

Finally, on the night of 20 March, the BRF deployed into theatre in support of 40 and 42 Commando. During the early hours of the following morning we were informed of a friendly forces helicopter crash. We were soon to receive the devastating news that eight of our dear friends and close colleagues had lost their lives in the accident. Later we would have the opportunity to remember their friendship and pay tribute to their bravery at a memorial service held in Az Zubayr Port upon the cessation of operations. Their contribution to the life and work of BRF was invaluable, they will always be held in the highest respect by all of us and will never be forgotten. However, there remained a job to be done so we closed ranks, drew strength from each other and carried on with the task before us.

After the AFP had been secured by 40 Cdo RM, the HRF hastily reconfigured as a squadron with the task of clearing the numerous date plantations and areas of population that run parallel with the Shatt Al Arab (the main water feature that separates Iraq from Iran). We conducted mobile clearance patrols with an attached troop from the Queens Dragoon Guards in Scimitar light armoured vehicles. This concept of operations, last used in the Falklands conflict, proved to be highly effective. We discovered that by employing drills similar to that of FIWAF we could cover and sweep an extensive area of ground in a short tine. We generally found that the enemy were using ‘shoot and scoot’ tactics throughout this period, but this did not slow down our rate of advance. Many of the Iraqi soldiers showed little willingness to fight and were quite content to give themselves up. The Field Humint Team (FHT) and their interpreters were used extensively during this phase, enabling us to gain and act on limited tactical intelligence.

Each day we pushed further up the AFP, gaining control of more ground until we reached the Divisional LOF on the periphery of the suburban area of Abu Al Khasib. Intelligence suggested that there was a high concentration of enemy armour dominating this area. As a result, we found ourselves laid up, with Milan deployed, for numerous days awaiting further orders. This period will always be remembered due to the extreme weather we were exposed to. Apparently Iraq generally receives approximately 5cm of rain during the month of March, what we did not expect was for it all to fall in one day! Especially to our surprise, with local fish.

Eventually orders were received for probing attacks to be conducted on likely enemy positions surrounding the town of Abu Al Khasib. The BRE was given the opportunity to carry out the first live direct action task since the M&AW Cadre’s attack on Top Malo house. Recce Troop 40 Cdo RM supported the raid and indirect fire support was provided by 29 Cdo RA and Mortar Troop 40 Cdo RM. The raid was a great success and an indicator of things to come. The BRF was given a new name ‘Brigade Raiding Force’. In separate actions, 611 and 612 TACPs were busy engaging targets to the north and west respectively.

Orders were given for Op James, the assault on Abu Al Khasib. The BRE would conduct the preliminary operation to seize an important bridge called objective ‘Sennen’ and clear an enemy held town. The BRF group consisted of some 27 vehicles including elements of QDG, Recce Troop 40 Cdo RM and TACP. Artillery and mortars preceded the assault, covering the QDCI onto the objective. Under contact, the BRF Engineers cleared and secured the bridge whilst the remainder cleared The town. Using what I can only explain as exceptional team drills and SOPs, the BRF managed to destroy the majority of the enemy, capture some high ranking Iraqi Officers and find a substantial amount of weapons and cash. The bridge was later renamed ‘Welly’ in memory of Lance Bombardier Llewlyn Evans who died in the fatal helicopter accident.

After a period of rehabilitation, we found ourselves working in and around Abu Al Khasib in support of 40 Cdo RM. and subsequently attached to 42 Cdo RM for the final push into Basra. We were one of the first Units to enter the presidential palace and this, to us, signified the end of offensive operations. The presidential palace was a unique experience, however it wasn’t the Aladdin’s Cave that most were expecting.

The BRE had to change mind~set for the peace support operation that followed, working initially within the eastern part of Basra, dominating the ground in support of 42 Cdo RM. Our final AO was in the town of Az Zubayr, in support of the Duke of Wellington Regt working with the FHT This untouched area provided a rich source of intelligence that led to several house searches and arrests of suspected individuals. We continued to exploit this intelligence with some success, until the end of operations was announced.
Operation Telic has been an emotional roller-coaster from start to finish for the BRF. We have experienced initial devastation followed by elation for a job well done. We have been successful in all that we have been involved in, but most of all, the BRF has become a very strong organisation as a result.
Anyone with aspirations to join the BRF should consider submitting a C233 stating that they are a volunteer for an ML2
Course or an RL Course. Further information may be obtained from the ML Spec Advisor, WO1 Daniels on 9375 36530 or from their respective UMLI or Recce Troop.

Mud, Mozzies And Missiles
by Mne Jones ADT

The troop arrived in Kuwait! once again fully prepared to take on any tasking other than Air Defence! Y troop required force protection to enable them to work from isolated positions, so within less than two weeks of arriving in theatre off we went on our first deployment onto Mutlar Ridge where we were employed in a force protection capacity. Once we had spent a total of 21 days upon Mutlar ridge it was time to be blessed by the padre and deployed towards the border.

One of those positions was on Bubiyan Island to the north east of Kuwait and in visual distance of the Al Faw Peninsular, the Brigade’s first main objective. After a week or so dug in on Bubiyan, the first signs of war becoming a reality began to occur; eight AS9Os, both 29 Cdo Btys and a Bty of American 155s appeared and decided to park 50 feet from our position, commencing to fire without warning on their highest charge, giving Mne Spence a valid reason to change his pants for once.

It was soon time to move off the Island and across the border and into Southern Iraq. The teams were spread out in various locations, from the edges of the Shatt Al Arab with 40 Cdo RM experiencing sporadic fire, to the salt marshes with 29 Cdo RA experiencing the mud and mozzies.

Detachment 3 located with 40 Cdo HQ at Abu Al Rhasib came under RPG and small arms fire, unlucky for them, they were positioned outside between the protection of the main building and the outer wall, which for some reason had a five foot gap between the bottom of the wall and the floor. The whole of 40 HQ then proceeded to line up on the roof of their building, assisted by sonic eager coalition partners, and return fire in the direction of the enemy. Little did they know that a few of their rounds were low, hitting the wall and bouncing our way, giving everyone else a reason to change their pants instead of just Mne Spence.

But as anticipated Y Troop’s role was one of the first no longer required as Saddam’s regime was destroyed and we moved into the Peace Support Phase. The troop subsequently re-roled into a patrols troop working from our new home at Az Zubayr Port (AZP). The tasks were various and plentiful: everything from protecting UNICEF water tankers and their subsequent distribution to the locals at nearby towns and villages, through working with 62 searching, finding and assisting (in conjunction with Australian EOD) with the disarmament of 7CSSC-3 (Searsucker) missiles near Basra. Then came the epic of learning the convoy routes through Kuwait City to various ports and airports, escorting coaches from Kuwait back up to AZP to be loaded up by the returning troops and escorted back down again. With all the varying tasks the troop had to remain flexible.

Once back in the UK the troop can look forward to listening to all the fire-fighting dits from the lads left behind on Op Fresco, and then going on a well earned leave!

Log Squadron

The Squadron has moved forward with the pace of Operations. From the relative comforts of Camp Gibraltar, we have moved twice. The first of these two evolutions was the move to TAA Viking, which proved rather interesting for some ranks. The forward recce consisting of B Ech CSM, Mark ‘Watch my hairdo’ Wicks and MT TSM Andy ‘Bad Cop’ Coventry. were prepared to receive the Echelon in the nominated area of desert when suddenly they were engulfed in a sandstorm, which could only be compared to a Norwegian white-out.

At this point, the Echelon arrived and the chaos of the night began. Being typical Bootnecks we managed to establish ourselves by first light, although having suffered a severe sandblasting as Sgt, RH ‘Uncle Fester ‘Rosary can vouch for, as the smart bloke’ on the motorbike. Training continued. consisting of NBC drills, Quad courses, digging in and filling yet more sandbags. That evening the Scuds and Searsucker missiles started heading our way and the Squadron practised its ‘get in your Trench in NBC gear on as quick as you can routine’.

Morale remained high, and even the CQMS, CSgt George ‘Victorian Dad’ Fowler had a smile on his face. As the war commenced the Squadron was continually meeting all logistic demands from the various sub-units with great efficiency. However, the only individuals getting confused with the LOGASSREQS were Comms. This might have something to do with WO2 Silver Fox’ Cluett and two, nameless Sgts not realising that OPDEMs are outdated. Early April saw the Squadron move forward into Iraq in yet another severe sandstorm. The lads could be heard saying that. they personally believed that it was the QM, Maj John Maddison’s fault. Surely not? We arrived at our next luxury accommodation which, compared with TAA Viking, was a blessing. Az Zubayr Port was the name of the Brigade concentration area which we would occupy for several glorious weeks. We moved into our dog/rat infested mosquito ridden area and started the clean-up. These had been previously used as Iraqi workshops and proved an ideal place for us, give or take the fact that we had no waning water, it was hot, dusty and the roof leaked. WO1 ‘Fashion Victim’ Straker was that content he could be heard asking where be could hang his curtains, or was that his quilt. Again we began building our defences and settling in with our creature comforts. The on-going saga of NBC/Trench hopping commenced as Saddam launched more missiles in our direction. You’ve really not seen the real Iraq unless you’ve seen it from the bottom of a 4-foot trench.

A week later we were into peace support ops and life has now become almost uneventful although Mne Rob ‘Rip the roof off with any forklift’ Driscol livens up the day. CSgts Man ‘Hot wire/Bob the Builder’ Starling and Nick ‘I have yet more questions’ Smyth have completed the Squadron shower, to whom one of the chefs was heard saying ‘its a bit cold Colours.’ The drivers and VMs have decided to cooperate and have built a Muscle Beach type gym and everyone is getting in on the act ready for the summer leave period. Watch out Mrs Standen, the MTO feels like a new man (remember of course he is an ex LC rate). Everyone is happy and looking forward to going home and spending some quality time with their families. With flights and details pending, we can only look forward to a decent British pint.

Roll Up, Roll Up, The Circus is in Town
by W02 R A Cluett RM, Comms Sqn

For Comms Sqn, events started to happen faster than for Op Jacana. Five men were to deploy with an Alternative Headquarters onto the Ark, this would then be surged ‘should’ anything happen, but we would still go to Norway. They deployed on 13 January and four of the five have remained in theatre. The escapee being the Yeoman who had conveniently passed an SD board and had been selected for SO(LE) - an escape. plan even I had to take my hat off to. The old saying of something happens, then happened. Norway was cancelled and we were all off to Kuwait. The next to deploy were ‘501 Violet’ (one of the Brigade’s two satellite detachments) with the Brigade’s and UK’s (if he’s to be believed) Satcom manager Sgt Lee Can). They deployed on 24 January straight into Kuwait. The Squadron needed more men, so we were joined by 14 ranks from 45 Cdo RM.

Once in the zone, the Squadron was split with the Echelon signallers deploying to Camp Gibraltar and the remainder staying in Camp Rhino. Camp Rhino was home to the circus -yes the big top was coming to town. For those of you that don’t realise why we call the Brigade CP, Billy Smarts, it is because it is a very big tent and it is full of clowns, so one of my Marines told me (I’ve still got a year to serve)! The big top was some way back from the front and wasn’t really the area to test and practise Combat Net Radio (CNR). So the Sqn deployed into the desert to Camp Alice to practise setting up and operating out of the green big top. The Brigade staff visited them and once they were happy that they operated out of a green tent in the desert and a white one in camp, they returned. To my dismay the Squadron didn’t and got more desert time in than Lawrence of Arabia’s camel.

The Squadron then moved to TAA (Tactical Assembly Area) Viking, a dustbowl approximately 16km south of the border town of Umm Qasr. Once set up, they were visited by the Brigade staff for periods of a couple of days at a time. Some of the lads, having lost all bearing of time, just thought that they were getting visited by the TA and that the visits coincided with the weekends. It was only with the discovery of a calendar that the buzz was squashed. The staff returned from Viking to Rhino to plan for future Ops and to get hot scran, ice creams and hot showers. The Squadron remained to get hot boil in the bags, sunscreen and warm solar showers. Finally we got the green light and everyone moved into Viking. It was strange being within artillery range of the enemy But what was more uncomfortable was the fact that throughout the Int briefs we were told the only thing, apart from the smoking barrel, that the Iraqis had that compared or bettered our weapons specs, was their artillery. So the phrase of dig deep really hit home. Scud alerts became second nature and I have had my NBC suit on for more time during this Op than during my previous 23 years service.

Cpl Tucker had us all in a flat spin whilst in position on the Al Faw Peninsula when he said he was under artillery attack. Luckily there was only one in-coming round. The next morning a clearance patrol was sent out to investigate. They found an abandoned (broken-down) land rover belonging to BRF and a scorched piece of ground where BRF had destroyed surplus ammo, which they couldn’t carry!

After a week or so the Forward Headquarters and 501 Wine’, under the guidance of Sgts Stevo Stevens and Ady Goodyer moved via Umm Qasr to the port area of Az Zubayr. Their chance to shine was short-lived as the big top followed only a few hours behind. This time though, it was different and rather than putting the big top up, a building was utilised. Strategic and CNR comms were established and soon the long hot summer days were flying past. Now we are in phase four of the Op, not a great deal has changed on the signalling front. We now only have one rebro out (at Basra International Airport) but most of the other circuits are still up and running in the same way that most of the Brigade are running around AZP. It’s another Corps reunion. The light at the end of the tunnel has been switched on; however, it sometimes gets obscured by smoke. Our Squadron 21C Dave Butcher has been promoted to Capt and he was given two cans of lager to celebrate with.

So what do I think? I personally think that the Squadron and Corps have done us and our forefathers proud, something that is quietly comforting to an old grey get like myself. On a sadder note, my branch has lost three men during this operation and, as a part of the Group, we lost five in the fateful Sea Knight crash. Nothing will ever replace these men, but hopefully our actions as a Corps will go someway to making sure that they will be remembered for all the right reasons.

As for the lads, I remember being young once and possibly giving my Sergeants Major a few grey hairs. I though, was grey before deployment. If I had a pound for every one of them that asked to go further forward I would have been between £45 - £50 better off. This just goes to show that those of you lucky enough to be in a Commando Unit should make the most of your time there, as the next time you too could be part of Billy Smarts. However, I feel happy to have seen a relatively young and patched together Squadron provide the level of communications support that we have, with a radio system that is past its sell-by date. This support has not only come from within as we have had an additional 21 Royal Signals personnel attached to us, manning equipment that we don’t have. As a parting sentence I am just thankful that as a Sgt Maj I can coin an old phrase from Brian Hanrahan and say that I counted them out and I counted them back again’.

Y Troop
by LCpl Hark, Y Troop

As an Arabic linguist stuck behind a desk for the last year, the chance to go out to Iraq to do the job in an entirely different environment was too good to miss. Y Troop flew out to Kuwait in the last week of January. Our job as the Brigades electronic warfare troop was to provide intelligence and warning to the brigade. Once the troop had all arrived at our new home, a Kuwaiti commando training camp, one of the detachments deployed to Mutlar Ridge just north of Camp Commando to take the lads through some revision on the kit. The troop was combined with Air Defence Troop who provided force protection whilst they were on the ground.

After about a month in Camp Commando the troop then deployed to various locations near the border to start their task. We remained, more or less, in these positions until we crossed the border. My detachment moved into the DMZ between Iraq and Kuwait a week before the war started. Everyone settled quickly into the routine of ‘det life’. Apart from the frequent scud and gas alerts, we were able to get on with the job of providing the Brigade with position fixes of Iraqi forces.

The war for det 4 started when the guns of the Royal Artillery, behind us, began firing on Umm Qasr, 2km in front of us on 21 March, the day after the decapitation strike on a target in Baghdad. For the next few days we saw Umm Qasr pummelled by mortars, artillery and air strikes as the Americans tried to take control of Iraq’s only deep-water port. We had unidentified people approach our position one night, so we were not best pleased when after a brief chat with the Kuwaiti Border Police a few days later, they left our position with a blast of their horn and blue and red lights flashing. Tactical.

We moved into Iraq with the rest of CSG on 25 March and moved into Az Zubyar Port Facility, which was to be the home of CSG for the remainder of the war. Due to technical problems our detachment had to ditch its Odette kit and along with det 2 we re-roled as RRT (Radio Reconnaissance Teams) in support of 40 Commando. This gave us a grandstand view of the tanks of the QDG doing their thing and was also a good chance to use another mode of collection.

A ‘quick’ trip to 14 Signal Regiment and our previous technical problem was solved - we had a new mast and could move back to working as an Odette platform. It was on the way back, in Umm Qasr when det 4 had their first contact, with some guy trying to fire an RPG at one of our vehicles. Two lads on the rear vehicle got some rounds down and a smoke grenade and the detachment escaped unscathed.

The troop was now able to deploy three Odette platforms and continued with their job. However, as the war progressed our number of targets got smaller as Iraqi soldiers deserted their positions or targets were destroyed. On the whole the troop provided a lot of good, timely intelligence, one of which was the location of our Iraqi counterparts 124 EW Regiment, which became 124 ‘crater’ Regiment; 1-0 to Y Troop.

The troop withdrew its dets back to AZP as the enemy activity dried up and began to get round the vehicles to prepare them for the return journey. During this period I had the chance to go out on patrol with some of the lads from Air Defence Troop. It was a good chance to speak to the locals and assure them that we were working hard to get essentials like water and electricity back on line. Amongst others, I spoke to two guys who were keen to supply information against remaining Ba’ath party members. We also visited a school to see how the community was getting back to normal.

The CTs in the troop had a chance to get onto HMS Ocean to do some training with the Royal Navy CTs on board; this also gave the lads a chance to get some beers down and some decent scran. It has been a good deployment and certainly made the 80-week Arabic course worthwhile. If the Americans have their way, then I guess we’ll be in Syria soon?

by SSgt Metherill

12 hours after banging on the OCs desk about wanting a piece of the Iraq game and we got the warning order that Y troop needed Arabic linguists - result.

We arrived at the fort on 6 January to begin prepping for the deployment I spent the three weeks in Stonehouse waiting for the punchline. Where was the bullshit? Us Int Corps types are allergic to it but working with the Signals all the time you come to expect it. Loads of blokes professionally getting on with their respective tasks and no shouting. Weird.

In between stints on Mutlar ridge the linguists passed the time working with the USMC 1st Radio Btn who were going to do the same job as us but obviously with loads more kit and not as well. Mutlar ridge was an excellent opportunity to get to know the lads and get acquainted with the kit and det routine for the job in hand.

The initial deployment was as a 3 DE platform baseline with an additional DF platform held in reserve. Early positions yielded little success but upon access being granted to Bubiyan island things started hotting up. The two DFs on Bubiyan regularly pinged C and C comns from the Al Paw Peninsula, these confirmed or were confirmed by other ISTAR assets and gave a good set of targets for the blokes on the lO8's and AS9Os. Whilst DF4 were watching Umm Qasr get spanked we watched the artillery lads give Al Paw a good softening up before 40 and 42 landed. It’s a bit like playing Battleships wit], AS9Os really. Things went pear-shaped for a while after DF2’s mast was ram raided by a landrover, quite impressive seeing as the thing is 20m high. I shan’t mention which service he was but I heard some of the lads say his name was Lloyd? There were slight suspicions that DF2 arranged the whole thing as they immediately re-roled to RRT and remained that way for the duration.

DF4 obviously thought this was a good plan and put on a Logasreq for storm force winds. Now, the masts are good, but 75mph winds do some damage and these masts don’t grow on trees. RRT can be very effective against the right target; unfortunately the Iraqis were very switched on to ComSec. As soon as a potential task had been identified, an Odette was sent up to 40 Cdo B HQ to support their attacks on the push into Basra. After a few days living in the swamp we moved with 40 into Abu Al Rhasib. Was it just me or did it remind everyone of Mogadishu and Black Hawk Down? We had been there a couple of days when a group of the bad dudes decided to use us as target practice for RPGs. I don’t know which was worse, the RPGs or the amount of blokes getting some trigger time whose ricochets were flying around our patch of dust. The next day we noticed a lot of comms activity similar to that which preceded the previous nights attack. When the PEs were showing the enemy as within half a mile of our location the unit was stood-to. Nothing happened, but as there were about 50 blokes lining the roof and a Challenger 2 parked outside it’s not surprising really. After about 30 mins radio silence the enemy call signs started moving out, never to reappear.

A couple of days later we were in the normal routine when the shout came for a linguist. ‘What do you want?’ ‘It’s a suicide bomber’. I’m sorry did I say that I spoke Arabic, I meant Welsh. One of the Americans ended up dealing with the fat bloke who made all the papers back home - he could have had anything hidden up that dress! 40 then moved further in towards Basra but our job dried up as the enemy comms disappeared. The RRT did a recce from the palace in Basra but the baddies just weren’t playing anymore. Royal had done a good job and all our targets had done a runner. Time to return to Az Zubyar Port to play the waiting game for the freedom bird. Glad to see some things don’t change no matter what the service. The Air Def blokes got some patrolling in, we got some bronzing in and the mozzies had a feast.

War with Y Troop is certainly different from how I imagined it. Targets are up close and personal; if the troop doesn’t do its job then it’s our people on the receiving end. It can be quiet and tedious interspersed with frantic activity tearing down and moving to set up again in an effort to keep up with the battle but the end result really is like playing a bizarre game of Battleships. It is not a glorious occupation but the satisfaction of knowing you did your job and got the results, is second to none.

RM Stonehouse

For the last few months, life at RM Stonehouse has been dominated by the situation in the Gulf and supporting Units deployed on Op relic. As the base Units deployed, Stonehouse became a central focus for administrating and supporting ranks who were being deployed to Theatre, including 105 RMR personnel. It also became the home of 42 Commando’s
Rear Party. As the Forward Reinforcement Holding Unit (FHRU), Stonehouse administered 210 ranks for Op Telic, much of the pressure being absorbed by the Supply Department, issuing 645 sets of desert uniforms, 365 desert hats and having to find! then issue 75 A2 SA8Os.

As hostilities began, Stonehouse continued supporting the deployed Units and personnel, but it also became a focal point for regional and national support for the Brigade. Immediately after the first casualties of the war were reported, floral tributes from the Plymouth region began to arrive at the main gates of Stonehouse. With sympathy and support growing within the city a Book of Remembrance was opened at St Andrews Church. The media realised the significance of the tributes and very quickly Stonehouse was inundated by messages of support from across the country. Among the hundreds of floral tributes were bottles of Kronenburg 1664, slabs of chocolate, teddy bears, flags and personal messages of support and sympathy. Letters were written by people of all ages, some as young as nine and from all regions of the UK. A number of poignant poems were left at the gates such as ‘The Dead Marine’, but some were written specifically for this conflict including the following

Desert Winds

The desert winds are calling me, whispering my name,
They tell me that my life from now will never be the same.
They greet me every morning as I wake to face the day,
And each night they murmur lullabies that rock my cares away.

When all my fears have surfaced and each day is filled with dread.
They speak tome of freedom and the path that lies ahead.
Their fingers form caresses that so gently touch my face,
And fill me with the belief that I can make a better place.

My actions on this day I know will help to free this land,
And the people who deserve so much more than death amongst the sand.
And if my step should falter as 1 march towards my fate,
I’ll know I made a difference in a world that’s full of hate.

But with luck I shall not falter and with brothers by my side,
I’ll ride the storm-tossed desert on to where my enemy hides.
And when we meet I’ll show him that all those who rule by fear,
Will learn their time is ending as the winds of change draw near.

So when I hear the desert winds I know my time has come,
All doubts are gone, my mind is clear, this battle must be won.
And after, when the winds have eased and justice is upheld,
I’ll be proud of my involvement in the land where I once dwelled.

Ingrid Miller,
Exeter.

The cards, letters and poems left at Stonehouse will be placed into binders and put on display with the Book of Remembrance in St Christopher’s. the Barracks chapel. On his return from Op Telic Colonel Cox, Deputy Brigade Commander, acknowledged and thanked all members of the public for their expressions of support during this difficult time.