Page 1 of 1
Vikings return home. East Anglia's Finest
Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 8:38 pm
by Kwackerz
Apologies for the cut and pasted message from the 1 R Anglian's Site.
I know we have a lot of East Anglian members, thought I would pass on the following details for 1 R Anglian's return home Freedom Parades.
I definately will try and get there and as such have booked time off work to travel up to Norwich to join in welcoming 'em home. It should be a very special parade. Expect plenty of tears and cheers.
Official details of the Freedom Marches for 1 R Anglian.
The 1st Battalion will exercise their right to the Freedoms of Norwich on 22 Nov (1400-1515 hrs) and Bury St Edmunds on 23 Nov (1130-1245 hrs). Regimental Secretary Norfolk is responsible for the organization of both events, the details of which are as follows:
• Norwich.
o Date: Thursday 22nd November
o Timings: 1400-1515 hours
o Route: Parade City Hall. March Gaol Hill, London St, Queens St, Tombland, Cathedral West Porch.
• Bury St Edmunds.
o Date: Friday 23rd November
o Timings: 1130-1245 hours
o Route: Parade Angel Hill. March Churchgate St, Guildhall St, Abbeygate St, Angel Hill, Abbey Gate.
Ensuring that the Vikings are welcomed home in a manner befitting their valiant deeds and considerable sacrifice will require your personal support and, where possible, your attendance. It will also require the support and attendance of the general public.
A Regimental Call to Arms has therefore been sounded; it contains a simple message: “The 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, known as the Vikings, have just returned from a 6 month operational tour in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. This magnificent fighting Battalion, representing the very best of East Anglia, has been taking the battle to the Taliban in arguably the most intensive war fighting campaign for over 50 years. Tragically, 9 of these brave young men have been killed in action in the service of their Country; many more have been wounded, some grievously.
The Head of the British Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, is increasingly concerned about the growing gulf between the Army and the Nation. He has contrasted the outstanding appreciation that America gives to its armed forces with that of the UK, where we still have people objecting to a home for our wounded soldiers’ families. He has wondered how many local Battalions will be given homecoming parades when they return from operations.
Lt Col Stuart Carver, the Commanding Officer of the Vikings, has asked for a public show of support to demonstrate to our young soldiers that people at home understand and appreciate the sacrifices they have made. He would like to think that General Dannatt has nothing to fear – in East Anglia anyway.
This message has been distributed to newspapers throughout East Anglia who may or may not choose to publish it; it is also being distributed as an email on the Regimental Email Address List; feel free to personalize it and pass it on.
Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 9:04 pm
by Gio
Why would they want to bury St Edmunds, surely he's been dead a few centuries
Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 9:06 pm
by Kwackerz
Badoom Tiiish!!
Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 10:06 pm
by BikerGran
The Head of the British Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, is increasingly concerned about the growing gulf between the Army and the Nation. He has contrasted the outstanding appreciation that America gives to its armed forces with that of the UK
TBH I think one of the reasons is poor PR! I know it shouldn't need PR but the fact is that's what runs the Nation nowadays!
Perhaps I should explain that what I mean is, if there was a homecoming parade for a local regiment, I'm sure the first I would know of it would be the report
afterwards in the local paper.
Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 8:55 am
by Samray
Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 12:07 pm
by back_marker
The whole Iraq saga hasn't helped the cause one little bit either.
So many people are on the "we shouldn't be there, period" bandwagon but seem to forget that your average squaddie is out there because someone has told him (or her) they have to. whether they should be there or not has nothing to do with it - they should be supported anyway.
Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 4:07 pm
by falcomunky
Sorry but I beg to differ.
We all, (should), know that both Afghanistan and Iraq are political 'wars' mainly about oil control.
Our Government, and by natural extension our Armed Forces, are not 'fighting' for 'righteous' reasons and are therefore not supported by a LOT of people in this country so surely it would be hypocritical to then show support!?!?
Granted both countries were contolled by tyrannical psychos who probably did worse things to their own than to their enemies, (WTF!?!?
), but that is NOT the reason that our Gov. has sent squaddies n the like out to possibly die.
Our lads n lasses are sadly there under false pretenses.
I for one would not suffer the personal hypocrasy of showing support to the Armed Forces coming back from the likes of Iraq as it simply shows support to the Gov for sending em all out there in the first place!
Its the same reason I would never join-up; I know that I would disagree with orders, (dont take em so well
).
Can you tell I'm anti-war/government/greed/most things?
Just my opinion mind...
Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 4:19 pm
by Samray
We all,
Just my opinion mind...
The rest of it doesn't deserve consideration.
Just my opinion mind...
Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 4:21 pm
by Kwackerz
What's wrong with fighting for Oil? At least Oil is a solid (well, fluid) reason.
Beats fighting over disagreements about a fictional book full of blokes with wings, ghosts, ghouls and the like.
But everyone is entitled to their views.
Apart from chavs.
--------------------------------- *edited to put this line in so it doesnt look like I was calling FM a chav!! I wasnt, btw..
----------------
Our Government, and by natural extension our Armed Forces, are not 'fighting' for 'righteous' reasons and are therefore not supported by a LOT of people in this country so surely it would be hypocritical to then show support
They work for you.
Anyways, this isnt a political thread. This is a thread with dates for the exercising of the Freedom of the City of Norwich and Bury St Edmunds.
Mebbies I shouldve put it in Rideouts and Events...
Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 5:12 pm
by falcomunky
"They work for you"
Seriously though; Its not the Armed Forces that I have a problem with, they are merely the violent end of the Government, a tool if you will. Its the 'people' in charge who are sending these poor sods to maybe die just so they can keep their own pockets lined full of gold for the forseeable future.
They boil my piss.
At least with WWI/II there was a real threat of invasion from our enemies.
Like the Falkland Wars; At least the people there actually
wanted our help.
I waved flags, went to parades and had fun at fetes when our lads n lasses came back from the Falklands, but thats because 'we all', (as in the Nation in general), felt that there had been a damn good reason to do what we did, (irrelevant of the Islands dubious past).
And
still just my opinion...
Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 5:40 pm
by Kwackerz
The Government went off half cocked then too. We didnt win because we were good, we won because of weather and logistics. Another month or so and they'd have had us on the back foot.
So what's wrong with fighting over Oil?
Seriously.
What was the Falklands about then? The price of Haddock?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6571431.stm
Fishing is a huge HUGE moneyspinner for the F.I. (read our Govt coffers) as will be Oil.
Why would the Argentinians have bothered retaking the Islands otherwise.
Instead of repatriating the Falkland Islanders we sent in vast amounts of Troops. This wasnt because Mary from 42 Bluff Cove Road didnt like the nasty Argentinian Commander, but because of the resources and location of the Islands. Nobody really gave a shite about the interests of those there. They could have sent out a small force, lost and gave it 'Sorry chick from 42 BC Rd, you'll have to lump it or move to Gibraltar..'
Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 5:55 pm
by Samray
Chile said Monday it will claim an extended portion of the Antarctic seabed to uphold its rights in the face of a similar step by Britain.
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/ameri ... index.html
Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 7:14 pm
by back_marker
falcomunky wrote:Sorry but I beg to differ.
We all, (should), know that both Afghanistan and Iraq are political 'wars' mainly about oil control.
Our Government, and by natural extension our Armed Forces, are not 'fighting' for 'righteous' reasons and are therefore not supported by a LOT of people in this country so surely it would be hypocritical to then show support!?!?
Granted both countries were contolled by tyrannical psychos who probably did worse things to their own than to their enemies, (WTF!?!?
), but that is NOT the reason that our Gov. has sent squaddies n the like out to possibly die.
Our lads n lasses are sadly there under false pretenses.
I for one would not suffer the personal hypocrasy of showing support to the Armed Forces coming back from the likes of Iraq as it simply shows support to the Gov for sending em all out there in the first place!
Its the same reason I would never join-up; I know that I would disagree with orders, (dont take em so well
).
Can you tell I'm anti-war/government/greed/most things?
Just my opinion mind...
You have just superbly illustrated my point exactly.
You are against the Armed forces who at the end of the day are in both Iraq and Afghanistan because some overpaid prick in a suit says they should be. It is not up to the Army at any level ask why, just do as they are told and that is exactly why you should be supporting the troops, because of the fine job they are doing, and not the reasons they are there in the first place.
If you remeber a certain RAF officer tried to refuse to be sent to Iraq on the grounds that it was immoral and illegal and got courts martialed for his trouble
Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 9:58 pm
by Kwackerz
Nobody has mentioned the fact that with Military parades come plenty of totty. Usually in short skirts and dolled up.
You didnt think I'd go up there
just to see the lads?
Please dont get too bent out of shape on the subject. Everyone is wholly entitled to their opinions on the subject. Apart from non flying RAF officers, who should almost all be shot.
Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 10:36 pm
by back_marker
Kwackerz wrote:Nobody has mentioned the fact that with Military parades come plenty of totty. Usually in short skirts and dolled up.
You didnt think I'd go up there
just to see the lads?
Please dont get too bent out of shape on the subject. Everyone is wholly entitled to their opinions on the subject. Apart from non flying RAF officers, who should almost all be shot.
Waste of good bullets that. Just ignore them, it annoys them even more.
